The University Blaze Craze student section designated Friday’s boys game with Muncie Burris a Silent Night. The U Center was not quiet for long as the Class 1A fourth-ranked Trailblazers broke the 10-point barrier less than two minutes in to the game as they rolled to a 82-29 PAAC North win.
University scored on their first 12 possessions of the game and on 16 of 17 first quarter possessions in taking a 33-4 lead after the opening period. Senior Josh Watson had 14 of his game-high 16 points in the opening period. Zack Hodgin, who stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, five assists and five steals had the silence breaking basket, stealing the ball and scoring a lay-in for an 11-2 Blazers lead with 6:07 left in the quarter. Hodgin had seven first quarter points.
The Trailblazers took a 58-12 lead in to the half, with a late thunderous two handed dunk by Watson off a Hodgin assist highlighting the second quarter effort. University shot a blistering 79 percent in the first half, including making all 17 two-point attempts.
David Howard (13 points) and Sam Mervis (11 points) also reached double figures for the game. Mervis had a team high seven assists as University assisted on 22 of their 32 made baskets.
Quinn Steiner had nine points, Ethan Sickels added eight points and three steals. Foster Flamion had a team high eight rebounds along with six points. Eyal Friedman’s four points rounded out the scoring.
“We shot the ball very well tonight,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “It was a nice win to get as we head in to Finals Week and get ready for a well-coached Seton Catholic team next week at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.”
University improved to 7-0 (2-0 PAAC North). Burris fell to 1-7 (0-1 PAAC North).
The University boys and girls will each play Seton Catholic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday evening. The girls game tips at 6 p.m. with the boys game to follow. The University boys will then be off until Dec. 29 when they will play the opening game of the Vincennes Lincoln McDonald’s Holiday Classic against the Eastern Greene Thunderbirds.
