PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College men's basketball team struggled in three key facets of the game on Tuesday night against visiting Prairie State College. The Hawks (6-7) shot just 38 percent (19-of-50) from the field, committed 24 turnovers, and failed to keep the Pioneers (3-9) off the offensive glass (22 offensive rebounds) in a 59-53 loss.

Both teams struggled mightily from the floor in the first half. Harper just shot 32 percent (8-of-25), but Prairie State was even worse at 13.9 percent (5-of-36). The Hawks led 21-16 at intermission.

In the second half, the Pioneers outscored the Hawks 22-12 over the first nine minutes to take a 38-32 lead, but Harper regained the lead with nine minutes to play on an Alllias Burnett 3-pointer. Prairie State responded with an 8-0 run of its own, capped off by a Josh Watkins (12 points) 3-pointer to make it 46-40 with 7:15 left.

After a Connor Elzerman (Oxford, Mich./Oxford) 3-point play cut the Pioneer lead to just 52-50 with 2:56 remaining, Darius Stokes buried a three to push the edge back to five. Harper got as close as two at 55-53 with under a minute left after Marcus Dover (/Conant) split a pair of free throws, but Gardner knocked down two free throws with 25.7 seconds left to extend the lead to 57-53. Harper turned the ball over on its next possession, and the Pioneers sealed the win.

Burnett was the lone bright spot for the Hawks as he matched a season-best with 29 points (11-of-16 shooting). Connor Elzerman (Oxford, Mich./Oxford) scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) had five points, five rebounds, and six assists.

Gardner led the Pioneers with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Jason Hines had 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Harper will have a quick turnaround with a Thursday evening game against Olive-Harvey College (7-6). Tipoff is set for 7 PM at Harper College.