Hawks Resume GLVC Play Against UIS, McKendree

Quincy University Hawks (8-4, 2-1 GLVC) vs. University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars (6-6, 0-2 GLVC)
Jan. 7, 2016 | 7:30 p.m.
Pepsi Arena - Quincy, IL

Quincy University Hawks (8-4, 2-1 GLVC) vs. McKendree University Bearcats (7-3, 0-2 GLVC)
Jan. 9, 2016 | 3:15 p.m.
Pepsi Arena - Quincy, IL

GLVC ACTION RETURNS: The Quincy University men's basketball team caps its season-long five game homestand this weekend, playing host to Illinois Springfield and McKendree in Great Lakes Valley Conference competition. Thursday's GLVC contest against the Prairie Stars will be the Hawks' first league game since Dec. 15. The Hawks are tied for second in the GLVC West with Truman and Drury, a game behind front-running Missouri S&T (3-0).

QUICK LOOK BACK: Quincy has won eight of its last nine games, the last a 98-69 win over Culver-Stockton on Sunday, Jan. 3. The Hawks maintained a six-point edge at halftime before outscoring the Wildcats, 57-34, in the second half by shooting 58.3 percent (21-36) from the field and 60 percent (9-15) from 3-point range. Junior forward Evan McGaughey (Carthage, Ill./Illini West) filled the stat sheet with 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Quincy forced 22 turnovers in the game and held a 23:10 assist-to-turnover ratio.

UP NEXT: The Hawks finish the season with eight of their final 13 games on the road, beginning next weekend at Southern Indiana and No. 11 Bellarmine.

HOT, HOT, HOT: Since sinking 15 3-pointers in an 88-72 win at Lindenwood on Dec. 1, the Hawks have been red-hot from 3-point range. In their last seven games, the Hawks are shooting 45.6 percent (77-169) from long distance. In that stretch, five players are shooting at least 47 percent from 3-point range, led by junior guard Von Washington III (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central/Western Michigan), who is hitting at a .553 (21-38) clip. Senior guard Nate Des Jardins (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) is connecting at a 50 percent (16-32) pace and senior guard Thomas Jackson (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersontown/Cincinnati State) is at 57.1 percent (8-14).

3-POINTS, CONT.: Their recent proficiency from behind the arc has bumped the Hawks to sixth in the GLVC in 3-point shooting at 39.5 percent (107-271) for the season. They are also sixth in threes made per game (8.92). Last season, the Hawks were 11th (.354) and 15th (6.10) in those categories respectively.

FORWARD THINKING: The Hawks will play the remainder of the season without forwards Dalton Hoover (Pittsfield, Ill.) and Scottie Bruxvoort (Mitchellville, Iowa/Prairie City Monroe), who each suffered season-ending knee injuries. Hoover played in three games this season, while Bruxvoort appeared four times. Without two key pieces, head coach Marty Bell has kept a short rotation in the frontcourt with juniors Evan McGaughey (Carthage, Ill./Illini West) and Joseph Tagarelli (Bayside, Wis./Waunakee/Kirkwood CC) seeing their minutes increased. Senior Godson Eneogwe (Chicago, Ill./Maine West/Illinois Central), normally on the wing, has played a bulk of time at the '4' spot, where sophomore Bobby Frasco (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Prospect/Buffalo) has also filled in key minutes.

BIG ADDITION: Tagarelli has been a crucial piece for the Hawks as the first-year transfer has established himself as one of the top forwards in the GLVC. Tagarelli ranks in the top 10 in the conference in scoring (16.9) and field goal percentage (.561). He is also averaging six rebounds and nearly two assists per game. The Wisconsin native has scored in double figures in 11 of his 12 games and is tied for the team lead with 17 steals.

THREE FOR III: Von Washington III has been a central part of the Hawks as one of just three players to start all 12 games thus far. The transfer from Western Michigan is averaging 10.3 points per game while showing the ability to both spot up from 3-point range (as shown in the note 'Hot, Hot, Hot') and slash to the rim. Washington is shooting 58.8 percent (20-34) on his two-point baskets this season and is at 43.4 percent (23-53) overall from 3-point range. He has scored in double figures in each of the last four games, making at least three threes in each.

ALSO NEW: Another first-year transfer, Frasco, has also made an impression on the QU coaching staff for his versatility. Coming into the program as a guard, the injuries to Quincy's post players have pushed the 6-foot-3 Frasco into the fray under the basket where he has held his own. The Mt. Prospect native scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in 14 minutes in Sunday's win over Culver-Stockton. Frasco also had games with five rebounds against Southern Arkansas on Dec. 19 and four blocks against William Jewell on Dec. 3.

STEADY MCGAUGHEY: McGaughey has become perhaps the Hawks' most consistent performer on a nightly basis. The redshirt-junior has scored between nine and 21 points in each of his last 10 games, including his season high against Culver-Stockton on Sunday. In the final game of 2015, McGaughey registered his second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Ohio Valley. He is shooting a career-high 57.6 percent (53-92) from the floor this season and ranks sixth in the GLVC in blocked shots (1.42 per game).

SEEING THE FLOOR: One theme of the Hawks' early season success has been the ability of their guards to take care of the basketball. Both Jackson and junior Herm Senor II (Springfield, Ill./Southeast) have been excellent in that regard, even while the Hawks have been adept at pushing the ball in transition. Senor has 41 assists to just 16 turnovers while Jackson has 40 assists to 18 turnovers. The pair have helped Quincy to rank fifth in the GLVC in assist-turnover ratio (1.24) and fourth in turnover margin (+2.92).

BALL HAWKS: Also contributing to that latter number has been a "hawkish" defensive attitude. The Hawks lead the GLVC and rank 14th in the nation in steals per game (10.08). On average, they force 16.3 turnovers per game, the third most in the conference. The Hawks have six players with at least 15 steals, led by 17 each from Tagarelli, Des Jardins and Eneogwe. Jackson and Senor each have 16 steals while McGaughey has 15 thefts.

THE FREE ONES: The Hawks have not only drastically improved their 3-point shooting from a year ago, but they are also accurate from the free throw line as well. Quincy ranks fourth in the GLVC by shooting 75.1 percent (160-213) from the line. Jackson leads the Hawks with an 89.4 percent (42-47) mark. Last year, he shot just 59 percent (45-76) from the line. Last season, the Hawks ranked last in the conference in free throws at 66.9 percent. That was a stark contrast from the 2013-14 season when they set a school record for free throw accuracy (76.0 percent) and led the conference in that category.

EASY ON THE HEART: Last season, the Hawks played nearly every other game down to the wire with nine of their games decided in overtime or by five points or fewer. Quincy was 2-7 in those games. This year, the Hawks have not played in any games decided by less than six points. The closest margin was an 80-74 win over Ohio Valley on Dec. 20.

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: Through three games this season, the Hawks were 0-3 and looking for a spark. That came against Robert Morris-Springfield as Tagarelli posted one of the best statistical games in recent QU memory. The 6-foot-5 forward dropped 36 points and collected 13 rebounds in a 115-65 rout of the Eagles. The point total was the most for a QU player since Andre Muse scored 37 against Culver-Stockton on Nov. 24, 2007. His 13 rebounds were the most since Billy Baptist had 13 against Rockhurst on Feb. 27, 2009. He also tied a school record with 18 made field goals (18-24).

DIVISION I EXPERIENCE: The Hawks played two Division I exhibition games this season. They played the Big Ten's Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. on Nov. 5, falling to the Wildcats, 80-64. On Nov. 27 – the day after Thanksgiving – the Hawks nearly pulled off an upset at Illinois State before the Redbirds pulled away in the final eight minutes for a 73-63 win. QU held a 61-58 lead in the second half before the hosts went on a 15-2 run to close the game.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Scottie Bruxvoort: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#3 Nate Des Jardins: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#24 Godson Eneogwe: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior

#40 Dalton Hoover: F/C; 6' 7"; Senior

#1 Thomas Jackson: G; 6' 0"; Senior

#42 Evan McGaughey: F; 6' 8"; Redshirt Junior

#2 Herm Senor II: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#5 Joseph Tagarelli: F; 6' 5"; Junior

#12 Bobby Frasco: G; 6' 3"; Sophomore

#30 Von Washington III: G; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#4 Scottie Bruxvoort
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#3 Nate Des Jardins
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#24 Godson Eneogwe
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G/F

#40 Dalton Hoover
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F/C

#1 Thomas Jackson
: 6' 0"; Senior
: G

#42 Evan McGaughey
: 6' 8"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#2 Herm Senor II
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#5 Joseph Tagarelli
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F

#12 Bobby Frasco
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: G

#30 Von Washington III
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: G