Nelsonville, OH -- The Hocking College men’s basketball team (10-4; 0-2) fell in consecutive games for the first time this season when the Hawks lost at home to Owens CC (8-9; 1-0), 77-73, after opening the season with the best start in school history (10-2).
Hocking was down three starters in the game, but saw the bench come through as seven Hawks saw action off the bench.
The lead changed hands several times in the second half and the Hawks had multiple chances to tie the game or take the lead in the final two minutes but turnovers kept the Hawks from the victory.
Hocking placed four freshmen in double-figures, led by freshman guard Ryan Archey, Jr. who scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and went 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, and converted a free throw. He added six rebounds, an assist and two steals.
Freshman forward D'Angelo Lake was strong inside with 14 points on 4-of-7 from the field, including going 3-of-4 from behind the arc and at the free throw line. He added eight rebounds, an assist, and a steal.
Freshman point guard Landon Sprigler and freshman forward Shawn Paris, Jr., each tossed in 10 points.
As a team, Hocking shot 24-of-57 (42.1%) from the field and 10-of-26 (38.5%) from three. The Hawks shot 15-of-21 from the free throw line and outrebounded Owens, 39 to 28.
Hocking still remains ranked in the top 10 of a few statistical categories in NJCAA Dlll. Hocking is ranked sixth in ppg averaging 93.6 PPG. The Hawks are sixth in total rebounds averaging 49.2 rebounds per game. Hocking is ranked second in the nation in offensive rebounds, avargering 19.1 per game.
Owens was led by Reggie Robinson and Jamal Whiteside who each scored a team-high 16 points. Robinson turned in a double-double as he was 8-of-12 from the field and recorded a game-high 12 rebounds. He added two steals and two assists. Whiteside came off the bench and went 4-of-6 from the field with two three-pointers and made 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
As a team Owens connected on 28-of-59 (47.5%) from the field and 8-of-22 (36.4%) from three. Owens was nearly perfect at the free throw line going 15-of-16 (93.8%).
Hocking travels to Bryant & Stratton (OH) on Saturday, January 11, at 3pm. The game will be played at St. Johns HS in Ashtabula, OH. The next home game is against Edison State next Wednesday, January 15, at 7:30pm (following the Lady Hawks game at 5:30pm) in the Hocking College Student Center.
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By Trevor Stephens
Hocking College Athletics