ARNOLD, MD - The Hocking College men’s basketball team (10-2) traveled to the Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) on December 19th and came out on top, 89-84, continuing the best start in program history. The tightly-contested game featured 11 lead changes and seven ties.
The Hawks raced out to a 17-8 lead with 13:17 left in the first half, before AACC came back to take an 18-17 lead on a 10-0 run with 10:33 left in the opening half. The lead went back-and-forth until Hocking took a 42-41 halftime lead when Shawn Paris Jr. hit the go-ahead three-pointer with eight seconds left in the first half.
In the second half, the teams stayed within five points of one another until the Hawks went on a 10-2 run with 3:00 to play, taking an 80-72 lead. AACC would cut the lead to four points, 84-80, before the Hawks closed out the game with a five-point victory.
Hocking was led by freshman forward Shawn Paris Jr. who came off the bench to record a double-double with a game-high 20 points, on 7-of-11 shooting. He went 4-of-7 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the free throw line. He also snatched 10 rebounds. Freshman point guard Landon Sprigler added 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor and 8-of-12 from the free throw line, with six rebounds and five assists. Freshman forward D'Angelo Lake notched another double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, which ranks tied for third on Hocking’s all-time single-game rebounding list.
As a team the Hawks, shot 31-of-67 (46.3%) from the field, went 8-of-20 (40%) from three, and converted 19-of-29 (65.5%) from the free throw line. The Hawks dominated the boards with 50 rebounds, 15 assists, and 19 turnovers. The Hawks had 22 second-chance points, imposed their will with 40 points in the paint, 32 points off the bench, and six fast break points.
Five Riverhawks scored in double digits in the game, led by Davon Jones who connected on 3-of-5 from three-point range for a team high 15 points and added four rebounds and five assists.
As a team, the Riverhawks shot 27-of-72 (37.5%) and made 16-of-35 (45.7%) from three-point range and 14-of-20 (70%) from the free throw line. AACC recorded 38 rebounds, 17 assists,and 11 turnovers. The Riverhawks had 11 second chance points, 16 points in the paint, 31 points off the bench, and four fast break points.
Hocking’s next game is at home on January 8th vs conference member Owens Community College. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm.
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By Trevor Stephens
Hocking College Athletics