Photo courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Hannah Cotter
Despite being out-rebounded by Niagara 38-36, Quinnipiac managed to stay on top throughout the entire game. A balanced offensive attack including shooting 70 percent from three, along with 19 assists to just five turnovers allowed Quinnipiac to come away with a much needed 82-68 victory over the Niagara Purple Eagles Saturday afternoon in Hamden.
Giovanni McLean excelled in the second half, scoring ten of his 19 points, not to mention that nine of which came from three-pointers, in the final frame. With 25 seconds left on the clock before the half and the crowd going wild, McLean effortlessly hit another three, giving the Bobcats an eight-point lead.
Niagara shot a feeble 31 percent from the three. Aside from a bucket by Emile Blackman early on in the second half leaving the Purple Eagles behind 39-35, nothing exceptional came from the visitors. The Bobcats, however, uncharacteristically went 12-for-17 from deep. Daniel Harris knocked down six threes in the contest, a career best.
The Bobcats held the biggest lead over the Purple Eagles about five minutes into the second half when they were up 54-37. before Niagara’s Cameron Fowler opened up with a layup, drew a foul, and eventually brought the score up 56-46.
Chaise Daniels was finally getting back into the swing of things after his injury. Although he’s been back for six games, he truly seemed himself again, with 12 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.
Unlike its previous game against Monmouth, Quinnipiac was looking tremendously sharp on offense. Abdulai Bundu was perfect (4-for-4) from the stripe and collected seven rebounds, and Ayron Hutton went 2-for-2 from the three and had five assists. Head coach Tom Moore heavily enforces sharing the ball in practice this week, and out of Quinnipiac’s 19 assists, Harris was the most generous with eight. “He wants to be good. He wants to improve,” Moore said. “He can look you in the eye and say, ‘yeah, as I made the transition here, I needed to be able to work a little bit better against Division I pressure and become a little bit better of a passer’, and he works at it”.
Up next, the Bobcats take on Fairfield Monday night. Quinnipiac won 60-59 last year, with Justin Harris, Ousmane Drame, and Zaid Hearst as top scorers. Ayron Hutton had six points and four rebounds, and James Ford, Jr. had four points and two rebounds.