Joe Martin scored a career-high 26 points to lead University to a 70-50 victory over Sectional 43 rival Heritage Christian Saturday afternoon at The U Center.
The Trailblazers took control from the opening tip, scoring the first seven points of the game and led 14-7 after the opening period. Max Greenamoyer and Jacob Sager had five points each in the first period.
University took a 10-point lead at 23-13 midway through the second period and maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. That 10-point lead came as a result of one of the more exciting plays of the afternoon. Larry Pierce blocked a Heritage Christian layup attempt leading to a Sam Mervis run out and lay in at the other end. That basket sparked an 11-0 University run that had the Tralblazers take a 32-15 lead at the half.
University’s lead reached 25 during the third period as Martin went off for 12 points in the quarter. The Trailblazers led 53-30 after the third period and maintained at least a 19-point lead for the rest of the game.
Greenamoyer had 14 points including four three point baskets and four steals. Camden Brown had nine points and Sager added seven points. Mervis had seven of University’s 14 assists. The Blazers had an excellent assist to turnover ratio, committing only seven turnovers.
Greenamoyer, Mervis and Brown tied for rebounding honors with four each.
“We are excited to get a win against an always tough Heritage Christian team,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “Our guys followed the game plan tonight. Joe Martin was good at both end of the floor. This was a nice team effort.”
Looking ahead to Friday night’s contest with sectional rival Covenant Christian and Saturday’s PAAC championship game, Lafferman added, “We are excited for the week ahead. We have two tough games and get a chance to win our third straight conference championship.”
University is now 15-4. Heritage Christian lost for the 11th time against six wins.
UNIVERSITY 70, HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 50
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 2-6 1-2 5 1
Max Greenamoyer 5-10 0-0 14 1
Camden Brown 3-4 3-3 9 4
Jacob Sager 2-3 3-5 7 2
Joe Martin 9-10 5-5 26 1
Aaron Stallings 1-1 0-0 2 1
Matt Jones 0-1 0-0 0 1
Korey Ash-Simpson 1-2 0-0 2 2
Larry Pierce 2-3 1-2 5 2
Faizan Eskar 0-0 0-0 0 0
Mitchell Martin 0-0 0-0 0 0
Totals 25-40 13-17 70 15
Score by Quarters
Heritage 7 8 15 20 – 50
University 14 18 21 17 – 70
University 3-point shooting (7-14) Greenamoyer 4-6, J. Martin 3-3, Mervis 0-3, Jones 0-1, Brown 0-1.
University rebounds (20) Mervis 4, Greenamoyer 4, Brown 4, Ash-Simpson 3, J. Martin 2, Eskar 1, Pierce 1, Sager 1.