Quincy, Ill. - It was a great day for the basketball lovers of Quincy on Thursday night as Head Coach Brad Hoyt and company got the return of QU basketball to Pepsi Arena for the 24-25 season off on the right note, defeating the Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange 75-61 behind four Hawks in double figures for the first win of the Coach Hoyt era of Quincy basketball. 

The first half was tightly contested throughout, due in no small part to a barrage of Trojan three pointers in the frame as HLG converted at a 58% clip from beyond the arc with seven of its 11 buckets in the first 20 minutes coming from deep. 

Despite the hot shooting from three for Hannibal-LaGrange, the Hawks hung tough, maintaining a lead for the majority of the first half, never falling behind by more than three points while leading by as many as five on the way to a 37-33 advantage at the break thanks to a 7-0 QU run in the final four minutes on a three and a free throw from Camren Kincaid along with scores at the charity stripe from Logan Robbins and Eythyn Brown. 

HLG broke out to an early advantage in the second half, using free throws and a three to get back into it, holding a one possession edge until a Tiernan Stynes three put QU ahead 47-45 at the 14 minute mark. 

The Trojans evened the tally with a jumper in the next possession, prompting a pair of Kincaid free throws to put the Hawks ahead for good as QU led from the 13:30 mark on, building the lead to double-digits a few minutes later on an Anthony Mcghee jump shot to make it 61-51 before going on to take the game 75-61. 

Brown led the way in scoring and facilitating, putting up 16 points along with a trio of assists. Kincaid (13), El Sieger (12) and Mason Wujek (10) also scored in double figures as Sieger also tied for the team-lead in rebounds with seven, alongside John Kelly III. 

Quincy out-shot (41.7% to 39.2%) and out-rebounded (39-37) HLG while committing seven less turnovers (17-10), outscoring the Trojans by 10 in the paint with a five-point margin (18-13) in second-chance opportunities. 

Next Up 

The Hawks are back in action on Saturday (Nov. 16), hosting the Lions of Missouri Southern for a 6:00 PM showdown in Pepsi Arena.