Pendleton Heights overcame a 20-point first half deficit to hand the University Trailblazers a 64-58 setback Friday night.
University dominated the first half of the game, leading 38-22 at the break. Max Greenamoyer had all of his 14 points in the first half, including four first quarter three pointers that helped University lead 19-8 at the quarter. The Trailblazers used eight second quarter points from Joe Martin to take a 38-18 lead with 2:34 remaining in the half on a Martin three pointer.
Pendleton Heights chipped away at University’s lead throughout the third period, but the Trailblazers still led 50-40 with 1:15 remaining in the period when Martin found Eric Major under the basket for a lay-in. The Arabians, however, used a pair of empty University possessions to score seven points in the last 75 seconds of the third quarter to pull within 50-47 at the break and seize momentum in the game.
Quinn Steiner hit a corner three just 20 seconds in to the fourth quarter to restore a six point University lead, but the Blazers went scoreless for the next six minutes while Pendleton Heights ran off 11 straight points for a 58-53 lead with two minutes. University never had the ball with a chance to tie the game or take the lead for the rest of the contest.
Martin led University with 15 points. The Trailblazers outrebounded the taller Arabians 29-21, but 15 turnovers were costly. Major led University with five rebounds.
Pendleton Heights had a massive advantage at the foul line, making 20 of 31 attempts, while University tried only 12 foul shots, making nine.
University shot 59 percent in the first half, including making six of nine three point attempts, but could hit only 33 percent of their shots in the second half. Pendleton Heights shot just 33 percent in the first half, but came back to shoot 67 percent in the second half.
The loss was University’s second in a row and the Trailblazers now stand at 13-3. The Blazers are next in action Saturday January 26 at the U Center when they host Anderson Preparatory Academy. A University win will give them the PAAC North championship and the right to host the PAAC championship game.
Pendleton Heights 64, University 58
University FG FT TP PF
Sam Mervis 2-3 1-2 6 4
Max Greenamoyer 5-11 0-0 14 1
Jacob Sager 3-4 2-2 8 4
Camden Brown 2-3 3-4 7 2
Joe Martin 5-14 3-4 15 2
Quinn Steiner 2-3 0-0 6 2
Nate Shatkowski 0-2 0-0 0 0
Eric Major 1-1 0-0 2 3
Korey Ash-Simpson 0-2 0-0 0 3
Totals 20-43 9-12 58 21
Score by Quarters
University 19 19 12 8 – 58
Pendleton Heights 8 14 25 17 – 64
University 3-point shooting (9-19) Greenamoyer 4-10, Martin 2-4, Steiner 2-3, Mervis 1-1, Ash-Simpson 0-1.
University rebounds (29) Major 5, Mervis 4, Brown 4, Ash-Simpson 4, Greenamoyer 3, Sager 2, Shatkowski 1, Martin 1, team 5.