After opening the season on the road for four straight games, the KSU Tusc basketball team played their hearts out in their home opener but fell 79-73 to undefeated Hocking College on Tuesday night. The loss dropped the Eagles to 2-3 on the season, while the Hawks improved to 6-0.

In a closely played game, the Golden Eagles just couldn't quite make it over the hump and were forced to play-from-behind and make multiple runs at the Hawks whose largest lead of the game was seven points. The Navy and Gold fell behind early, 7-1, before a fierce run fueled by two acrobatic Andre Leavell layups and a Gunnar Tharp triple tied the game at 11-11. The visitors scored the next five points to take a 16-11 lead, but consecutive steals by the Eagles led to two Malik Campbell layups and a foul shot to tie things once again at 16-16.

The opening half ended with Hocking adding a pair of free throws and an offensive stick back after another charity toss missed its' mark which gave them a 41-37 lead. The Eagles managed to keep things close before intermission as Leavell willed his way to 16 first half points.

After the break, the Hawks forged ahead again 46-39, before Campbell slashed his way to the basket twice for twisting baskets and Braden Rostad gathered a misfire and converted on a short jumper to close the lead to 50-47. The Eagles continued to stay close and two Tharp drives down the middle of the lane made it a one point contest at 59-58, but another Hawks run ensued carrying them to a 67-60 lead with 5:47 to play.

Rostad buried a couple of big threes down the stretch, but with 2:30 left Hocking increased the margin to 72-65 which the Eagles promptly whittled to four at 73-69. As time waned, the Eagles were forced to foul and eventually succumbed to a parade of free throws in the last :58 seconds.

Leavell led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 23 points, while Campbell scored 15, Tharp 11 and Rostad 10.

KSU Tusc travels to northern Kentucky to play in the Connor Classic at Thomas More University where they will face the hosts on Friday and Defiance on Saturday.

Malik Campbell looks for an opening in traffic. 

Jacob Hicks gets fouled on an attempted stick back.     (Photos by Jim Cummings)