QUINCY, Ill. - The Quincy University men's basketball team defeated the St. Louis College of Pharmacy on Sunday (Nov. 17) at Pepsi Arena. Tanner Stuckman, Jonah Smith, and Austin Downing all scored in double figures, combining for 46 points in a 77-61 victory over the Eutectics in the home opener.

How It Happened
The Hawks got the scoring started early, as Austin Downing hit a jumper just 15 seconds into the game.

The College of Pharmacy answered with a three-pointer, but QU proceeded to go on an 11-0 run. Ryan Briscoe found Tanner Stuckman for a two-handed slam to put Quincy up eight, before Downing knocked down two free throws 30 seconds later to make the score 13-3.

The Hawks continued to stretch the lead after that. Briscoe drove into the lane and finished an off-balance layup with contact. The redshirt junior guard converted the three-point play to put QU up thirteen.

Trent Champagne and Justin Warren came into the game and knocked down back-to-back jumpers to extend the lead to eighteen. Adam Moore later dropped in three free throws in a 25-second span to give the Hawks their largest lead of the half, 31-12.

The Eutectics chipped into the lead just before halftime. The visiting team hit a three just before the buzzer sounded, as the Hawks went into the locker room up by fifteen, 42-37.

The College of Pharmacy carried that momentum into the second half. The Eutectics started the half on a 10-4 run, forcing head coach Ryan Hellenthal to call a 30-second timeout to regroup.

After the visitors pulled within four out of the timeout, Jonah Smith got the offense rolling. The redshirt freshman from Mount Zion, Illinois nailed a three, fueling a 7-0 run. Tanner Stuckman later found Adam Moore for a layup before knocking down two free throws of his own to put the lead back up to eleven, 53-42. 

The Eutectics did not go down easy, cutting the lead to single digits once again at 55-47. That is as close as they would get, as the Hawks started to heat up from behind the arc.

Stuckman, Smith, and Champagne all poured in threes down the stretch to seal the deal. The Hawks took control and defeated the Eutectics 77-61.

Stat Leaders
Tanner Stuckman - 19 points, 6 rebounds
Jonah Smith - 14 points, 3 assists, 2 steals
Austin Downing- 13 points (5-6 FG)

QU's Record
2-1

Up Next
The Hawks travel to Hammond, Indiana on Saturday (Nov. 23) for a 3 p.m. tip-off with Purdue Northwest.