KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Quincy University men's basketball team battled Rockhurst University on Thursday night (Jan. 2) to start the new year. QU's late run was not enough to overcome the home team's lead, as the Hawks fell 73-65.
 
How It Happened
1st Half
The Hawks fell behind 10-4 early on after Rockhurst hit two shots from behind the arc in the first three minutes.
 
Austin Downing found Charles Callier for a three to cut the deficit in half, and Adam Moore later nailed another one to tie the game at 17-17 with 9:02 remaining in the first half.
 
RU answered two minutes later to go ahead by two, but that lead was short-lived. QU ended a four-minute scoring drought when Aziz Fadika found Callier for his second three of the game, giving Quincy a 20-19 lead. 
 
Both teams went back and forth in the final five minutes, as the game sat tied at 30-30 with seventeen seconds left.
 
The Hawks took the lead on the final possession of the first half. Ryan Briscoe soared for an offensive rebound to keep the ball in the hands of the visiting team, which allowed Callier to slash through the lane a few seconds later and lay the ball in just before the buzzer sounded.
 
QU took a 32-30 lead into the locker room behind 10 points from Callier and 9 points from Downing.
 
2nd Half
Rockhurst came out the break on a 9-2 run, regaining a 39-34 lead with 16:36 remaining.
 
QU fought back and tied the score at 41-41 when Charles Callier drained his third triple.
 
The Hawks of Rockhurst scored the next eight points before Quincy answered once again. 
 
Ryan Briscoe went coast to coast to bring QU within five at the nine-minute mark. 
 
Just over a minute later, Callier came up big on the defensive end. The junior guard came from behind for the chase-down block to start a fast break for Quincy. The Hawks worked the break to perfection, as Aziz Fadika found Justin Warren for a corner three to make it a one-possession game, trailing 53-51.
 
For every run QU made, the home team had an answer. Rockhurst proceeded to go on a 10-0 run, going ahead 63-51.
 
Austin Downing brought the Hawks back within five with 43 seconds remaining. The redshirt junior finished a layup with contact and knocked in the free throw to complete the three-point play.
 
That is as close as the Hawks would get. The late run was not enough as RU went on to take a 73-65 victory.

Stat Leaders
Charles Callier - 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks
Austin Downing - 14 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds

QU's Record
6-4, 0-2 GLVC

Up Next
The Hawks return to GLVC action on Saturday (Jan. 4) as they travel to William Jewell. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.