KANSAS CITY, MO. – The QU men's basketball team got out to a sluggish start and never recovered in a 68-62 road loss to Rockhurst University on Saturday (Feb. 20). Paul Zilinskas turned in a career-high 22 points despite the loss. 

Buckets were hard to come by for Quincy at the start of the first half. Rockhurst held QU to one field goal on their first ten attempts until the twelve-minute media timeout. The home Hawks held a 21-6 lead over QU with 11:43 left in the first.

With under seven and a half to go, Rockhust continued to charge in front, 34-10. Charles Callier knocked down the team's first three with 4:38 to go to make it 34-13. Paul Zilinskas followed that a minute later with a three of his own to give QU 16 points to Rockhust's 34. 

Silas Crisler put down a dunk with 21 seconds left before halftime to give the Hawks a heartbeat going into the final twenty minutes. 

By the end of the first half, Saturday's game had a similar set up to Thursday night's tilt with William Jewell. In that one, the Hawks had just 22 at half before blazing out to 52 in the second. 

QU needed to get things going early, and Paul Zilinskas did that for the Hawks. The Oak Lawn native hit two threes and got to the rim in the first minute and 40 seconds to make the score 38-28, RU.

This kick-started the Hawks as Jamaurie Coakley got in on the action with Zilinskas. After Zilinskas' three straight baskets, Coakley scored three straight buckets including an and-one after a jumper. This three-point play brought the Hawks within five points in a hurry, 40-35, with 16:05 to play. 

Rockhurst clapped back with five points after a three, a stop, and a lay up helped extend QU's deficit to ten points, 45-35. After a Charles Callier three with 14 minutes left, neither team scored until Rockhurst hit two free throws with 11:43 to play to bring their lead to 50-37. 

With under ten to go, Jack Youmans and Silas Crisler both hit jumpers to bring their deficit to under ten points, 50-41. 

Over the next five minutes, Quincy did not have a field goal and fell behind 61-47. This drought proved to be the difference despite the Hawks outscoring Rockhurst 15-7 in the last 3:49 of the game. 

Rockhurst took the contest, 68-62.

Stat Leaders 

Paul Zilinskas - 22 points and 7 rebounds
Silas Crisler - 17 points and 7 rebounds


Next Game
The Hawks will play the last weekend of GLVC play at home inside Pepsi Arena starting with a matchup against Southwest Baptist on Thursday night (Feb. 25).