PALATINE, Ill. – Squaring off with a second straight top-10 opponent proved to be a difficult task for the Harper College men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon. After playing No. 1 Rock Valley College on Wednesday evening, the Hawks took on No. 9 (DII) Triton College.

The Trojans (16-2, 2-0 N4C) used their depth to wear out an undermanned Hawks squad (9-9, 0-2 N4C) as they walked out with an 87-66 victory.

Harper trailed 27-25 with 4:59 left in the first half after a Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) free throw, but Triton closed the half on a 16-5 run to lead 43-30 at halftime. The Trojans shot 44.4 percent (16-of-36) in the first half, and the Hawks shot 32.3 percent (10-of-31) and turned the ball over 10 times.

The Hawks got no closer than 11 points in the second half. Marcus Dover (/Conant)'s layup cut the Triton lead to 54-43 with 13:10 remaining, but the Trojans needed just over a minute to go on a 10-1 run to build a commanding lead. Dover scored 16 of his career-high 23 points after halftime and also ripped down a season-best 13 rebounds.

Triton point guard Eric Gillespie warmed up as he scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the second half. Marquis Todd (11 points, eight rebounds) and Greg Carter (10 points) both reached double figures. The Trojan bench scored 32 points, and the visitors shot 43 percent (34-of-79) for the afternoon and held a 46-32 rebounding advantage. 

Gatlin filled up the stat sheet for the Hawks with 18 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and five steals. Abdul Mushtaq (Wheeling, Ill./Wheeling) poured in 13 points, and Allias Burnett (Joliet, Ill. /Joliet West) finished with nine points and seven rebounds. As a team, Harper shot 33.8 percent (22-of-65).

The Hawks will look to win their first conference game as they travel to Wilbur Wright College (1-13, 0-2 N4C) in Chicago. Tipoff is set for 7 PM.