Hawks, Panthers Set To Battle in GLVC Tournament Quarterfinal

GLVC Tournament Quarterfinal
No. 7 Quincy University Hawks (19-9, 12-6 GLVC) vs. No. 2 Drury University Panthers (19-7, 14-4 GLVC)
March 4, 2016 | 6 p.m.
Family Arena – St. Charles, Mo.

SURVIVE & ADVANCE: The Quincy University men's basketball team is among the final eight teams standing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament for the first time since 2010. The Hawks, who defeated McKendree, 87-80, in the first round at Pepsi Arena, will play rival Drury in a matchup of the GLVC West's top two teams. The Panthers are trying to defend their 2015 GLVC Championship.

PANTHER HISTORY: The Panthers have been a thorn in the side of the Hawks in recent years. Drury has won the last seven matchups between the schools, though the last three have been decided by a combined 10 points, including two overtime affairs. The last Quincy victory in the series came Jan. 12, 2012, 68-61, at Pepsi Arena. The teams last met in the GLVC Tournament in 2012 with the No. 9-seed Panthers defeating No. 8-seed Quincy, 82-65, in the first round, also at Pepsi Arena. This is the third all-time matchup between the programs in the conference tournament. Quincy is 0-2.

GLVC TOURNEY HISTORY: The Hawks are looking to reach the GLVC Tournament semifinals for the first time since 2008. They beat Kentucky Wesleyan, 87-83, in double overtime in the quarterfinal before falling to Drury, 76-63, in the semifinal. Quincy is 6-13 all-time in the GLVC Tournament and 6-11 under head coach Marty Bell, who is coaching in his 12^th GLVC Tournament in 13 seasons. QU has played in one conference championship game – in 2006 when the Hawks lost, 68-67, to Saint Joseph's.

ALL-GLVC: The Hawks had a school-record four players named to the All-GLVC teams, which were released Wednesday afternoon. Junior forward Joseph Tagarelli (Bayside, Wis./Waunakee/Kirkwood CC) was QU's first player named to the first team since Chris Babbitt in 2013. Senior wing Godson Eneogwe (Chicago, Ill./Maine West/Illinois Central) and junior forward Evan McGaughey (Carthage, Ill./Illini West) were each given second team nods. Senior guard Nate Des Jardins (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) was the fourth individual recognized with his selection to the league's All-Defensive team. Quincy was one of two schools (Truman State) with four different individual winners.

BIG SWINGS: The Hawks survived a scare from No. 10-seed McKendree last Sunday in the first round of the GLVC Tournament at Pepsi Arena. Quincy appeared destined to cruise after bolting to a 30-14 lead. The Bearcats hung around and eventually took a 10-point lead with eight minutes to play before junior guard Herm Senor II (Springfield, Ill./Southeast) took over.

LAST EIGHT MINUTES: The Hawks needed a flurry down the stretch to overcome the deficit and win by seven. Senor was the offensive sparkplug in that effort. Here are some numbers to digest from those last eight minutes:

Quincy 28, McKendree 11
Senor had 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc
QU out-rebounded McKendree, 10-5
The Hawks forced three turnovers and committed none
QU shot 10-for-16 from the field and held the Bearcats to 3-for-12 shooting

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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