PALATINE, Ill. - The Harper College men's basketball team closed the first half on a 30-10 run to break open a close game and spur them on to a 95-62 win over Judson JV. The win was Harper's first at home this season.
Chris Hicks (Elk Grove) led Harper (2-1) with 21 points, 11 of which came during the team's decisive run, while Garett Gatz (Conant) added 16 points and 5 assists. Judson was able to contain the Hawks early on, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead.
After Judson tied it up at 24-24, Harper put the clamps down on defense and revved up their play on the other end of the floor. Kyler Market (Willowbrook), who provided a low post presence with 12 points, sparked the run with 2 assists sandwiched around a baseline jumper to put the Hawks up 30-24.
Following a Judson 3-pointer, Hicks took over. The second-year player hit a 3-pointer, rebounded his own miss for a basket, hit 2 mid-range jumpers and finally found Gatz for a triple to increase Harper's lead to 42-30 with 2:27 left in the first half. Gatz, who had been held scoreless up to that point, went on a flurry of his own, drilling 3 3-pointers and making another basket in the final 2:27 of the half to put Harper up 54-34. His most spectacular play, however, was courtesy of hustle as Gatz leaped for an offensive rebound and just as the ball was about to go out of bounds, tipped it to a wide open Brian Battaglia (Elk Grove) for a layup.
Harper picked up right where they left off in the second half. Gatz found Market underneath for a dunk before Jordan Mack (St. Joseph) got going with 2 jumpers. After Battaglia threw a lead pass to John Lorenz (Elk Grove) for a layup, the Hawks led 64-38. The Hawks took their biggest lead at 81-47 with 7:08 left when Lorenz hit Hicks for a triple.
Lorenz contributed 13 points and 4 assists while Mack had 8 points. Battaglia had a solid all-around game with 6 points and 3 assists.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday afternoon in a road contest at Elgin Community College (0-1). Tipoff is slated for 1:00 PM.
