Class 1A No. 4 University held Liberty Christian to just three points over the last 12:14 of the game and opened PAAC North play with a 47-27 win Saturday night.
Senior Zack Hodgin featured for the Trailblazers, leading the team in point (14), rebounds (nine) and assists (four) as well as shutting down the Lions leading scorer Joshua Tufts over the last 12 minutes.
“I can’t say enough about Zack Hodgin on both ends of the court,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “We are excited to be 6-0. We had to grind out this win. Our defense was really good. Sam Mervis did a nice job guarding their point guard.”
The 6-0 start for the Blazers is the best in school history. The 2005-06 team started 5-0.
David Howard had 13 points and eight rebounds.
University took the lead for good at 6-5 on a rebound basket by Hodgin and led to a 13-9 advantage after the first quarter. Two Hodgin baskets and a Mervis lay-in stretched the lead to 19-11 early in the second. Liberty Christian closed to within four before University finished the half strong. Howard scored an and one off a nice feed from Ethan Sickels. Hodgin threaded a bounce pass to a streaking Mervis for a lay-in before Howard grabbed an offensive rebound and fell to the floor before passing to Hodgin for a basket. University led 28-19 at halftime.
The Blazers were held scoreless for the first four minutes of the third quarter. After the Lions closed to the lead to 28-24, the Blazers switched Hodgin on to Tufts (who had 11 of the Lions’ 27 points). Mervis found Quinn Steiner in the corner for a three pointer before Howard scored three consecutive baskets for a 37-24 lead after three.
The Lions broke a 6:32 scoreless streak with a basket in the first 90 seconds, but managed only one free throw over the last 6:36 of the game.
University is next action Friday night against PAAC North rival Muncie Burris at The U Center.
