Winners of two of their last three games---which were decided by an average 2.66 points---the Golden Eagles relished the fact that Sunday's game against Bryant and Stratton Ohio was a nice departure from the frying pan.
KSU Tusc struck like lightning and with surgical accuracy, leaping to a 13-0 lead in the first 3:59 of the game. That quick start propelled them to a 78-50 win and advanced their record to 10-4, with a very important matchup looming next week against USCAA D2, No. 3 ranked, Ohio rival Miami Hamilton (14-4).
The Shockley brothers, Kyle and Kam, teamed up on the first basket of the game as Kyle hit his older brother on a backdoor cut for an easy payoff. London Cobbs followed with a quick steal and lay in, Kyle Shockley followed up his own miss at the basket, DeJuan Lawrence sank a 15-footer and three free throws, while Kam Shockley scored on an inbounds lob before the Bobcats could get up off the canvas.
The game did get a little closer, but with the Eagles leading 28-22 they closed out the opening 20 minutes much like they began it. Cobbs made a steal and fed Lawrence who took flight from near the foul line for a booming dunk, Lawrence added a pair of freebies, while James Roundtree and Cobbs both made shots inside the lane to propel the KSU Tusc to a 36-24 halftime lead.
Four minutes into the final half, the Golden Eagles pushed their advantage to 19 points while holding the Bobcats scoreless. A pair of free throws along with a floater in the lane by Lawrence combined with a Cobb's backdoor cut to the basket capped a 16-5 run and catapulted the lead to 23 points (52-29).
With 5:48 left to play the score stood 61-44 and the Eagles continued to turn up the heat, running the Bobcats ragged and holding them scoreless again---this time for nearly three minutes while advancing their lead to 74-44.
On this day, the Eagles only hit two shots from behind the arc because they didn't need them. They sank 18/21 free throws (86%), the entire roster scored and three players scored in double digits with Lawrence leading the way with 25 points. He converted on 11/12 charity tosses and was the chairman of the boards with 24 rebounds for his sixth double-doouble on the season. Cobbs tallied 17 points making 7/10 field goal tries with seven boards and four assists, while Kam Shockley knocked home 16 points on 8/15 shooting to go along with six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
KSU Tusc made 29/62 action shots (47%) anbd held the Bobcats to 28% shooting on 19/67. The Eagles outscored BSC 21-6 in transition, outdueled them in the paint 47-24 and ruled the boards 47-24. The winners also made 14 steals and blocked five shots.
Next Saturday, January 22nd the Eagles host Miami Hamilton in a 3:00 p.m. start.
Kameron Shockley dunks on BSC. Photo by Jason Keller
DeJuan Lawrence gets the opening tip and Kameron Shockley floats to the hoop. Photos by Patty Tolotti - Solid Rock Photos