Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Tom Cunningham
Just as the Quinnipiac men’s basketball team seemingly had a chance to get back to its winning ways, the Canisius Golden Griffins ended the game on a 9-0 run, to take down the Bobcats on their home court. On an afternoon that saw the Bobcats shoot a dismal 33.9 percent from the floor, they still had a chance to come away with the victory, until the final 1:30 in which the team missed their final seven shots. Even with sophomore point guard Ayron Hutton contributing a season-high 15 points, and a solid performance from junior Daniel Harris, who went 4-for-6 from three, a balanced offensive attack with scoring from all over the court allowed the Golden Griffins to come away with the 63-53 win.
The game was all about runs and Canisius (9-10, 4-4 MAAC) was able to come away with the final run of the game. For much of the game the two sides were going back and forth, trading baskets up and down the court. The game was tightly contested with the teams tying the score eight different times, to go along with eight different lead changes as well. Jermaine Crumpton shined for the Golden Griffins in the second half, scoring 15 of his game-high 17 points in the second half. Midway through the second half Canisius was clinging to a 41-40 lead before going on a 10-0 run to take the 51-40 lead over the Bobcats (5-11, 2-5 MAAC). Tom Moore’s squad would answer with a 10-0 run of their own, inching to within one with just over three minutes to play. The Golden Griffins closed out the game going on a 9-0 run to seal the victory, holding Quinnipiac without a basket over the final three and a half minutes.
Quinnipiac had several chances down the stretch to try and make its way back in to the game, but a litany of missed shots lead to the team’s demise. Hutton and Harris led the team in scoring all afternoon long, but neither one even had a single shot attempt in the final three minutes of play. Senior guard Giovanni McLean struggled from the field, going 3 of 12 with just 10 points on the afternoon, including missing his final three shots down the stretch.
Hutton and Harris notched 21 of the team’s 27 points in the second half of play. In just his third game back from a knee injury, sophomore Chaise Daniels still struggled to find his scoring touch just going 3-for-13 from the field. The Bobcats’ big man has shot just over 30 percent in his three games since coming off the injury.
The Bobcats turned the ball over 16 times leading to 21 points for the Golden Griffins, while Canisius only turned the ball over six times allowing Quinnipiac just three points off of turnovers.
The Golden Griffins were led by Crumpton’s 17 points, but a balanced attack from the rest of the offense separated them from the Bobcats. Nine of the 11 Golden Griffin players that saw the court were able to put the ball in the basket.
The Bobcats are back on the road next Sunday to take on the Broncs of Rider. Last time these two teams played, the Bobcats emerged with a 64-60 win at home on Jan. 14. This game was the last win for the Bobcats, as they have lost their last three games, and have dropped seven of their last eight overall. Quinnipiac will look to get back on track against Rider, the team who sits right below them in the MAAC standings. The Bobcats return home Jan. 28 to face Monmouth and the famous Monmouth bench.
