Eutectics Short of Victory Despite Second-Half Threes

The Eutectic men's basketball team made the short trip to Harris-Stowe State University Thursday evening to play the back end of an American Midwest Conference (AMC) home-and-home series. After a falling 81-55 to the Hornets at the UHSP gymnasium a month ago, the Eutectics forced a much closer game this time with lights-out three-point shooting in the second half. Still, the Hornets, now 6-15 (3-24 AMC), were able to claim the home victory by a score of 84-76.

Moctar Keita scored the first points of the game with a made layup off the tip. But, the Hornets quickly countered with a jump shot and a made layup within the next 42 seconds to take a lead they would not give up. The HSSU team lengthened its lead as the period continued with a dunk from Chance Groce punctuating their first 10-point lead (24-14) at 7:50. Dwight Newsome followed up quickly with triple assisted by Landon Engelage, but the Hornets regained a 10-point advantage (34-24) after two free throws by Bennie Amos at 3:48. Newsome, again, hit the three to narrow the gap to 34-27, and a steal and layup by Kyan Arrandale immediately followed to get UHSP within five (34-29) at 1:43. But, a home team layup and tip-in in the final minute-and-a-half of the first period put the Hornets up 38-29 headed into halftime.

After a series of Harris-Stowe steals leading to layups in the first 10 minutes of the second half, the home team had earned an 18-point lead at 58-40. After an HSSU layup by Seth Chargois extended it to a 20-point differential at 60-40, the Eutectic sharp shooters started firing. It began with a triple from Jas Suvalija off an assist from Engelage at 9:08, kicking off a 7-for-8 three-point field-goal run for the Eutectics, including three threes from Suvalija, and one apiece from Ahian Barnett, Engelage, Arrandale, and Newsome. The effort would eventually cut the Hornet lead by 12 points before the end of the game, leaving the Hornets with a narrower victory this time of 84-76.

The Eutectics finished the game shooting 46.2% from the arc (12-26) and 47.9% overall (23-48), while the Hornets were 30% and 55.6%, respectively. The Hornets outrebounded the Eutectics 36-15, while converting 22 points from 18 UHSP turnovers.

Newsome went 3-for-4 from the arc, 5-for-7 from the floor, and 2-for-3 from the line to lead the Eutectics in scoring with 15 points. Keita (13), Suvalija (12), and Barnett (11) also reached double figures in scoring for the Purple and Gold. Arrandale (7), Braylon Rios (4), and Paradise Jr. (3) dropped in the remaining UHSP points. Paradise Jr. had five rebounds and Engelage dished off six assists.

HSSU's Bennie Amos led all scorers with 25 points, while teammate Seth Chargois earned a double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Eutectics, now 1-19 overall and 0-8 in the AMC, will have a week off before their next contest: an AMC home matchup with Williams Woods University (Mo.)(11-7, 3-3 AMC) on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m.