Hastings College Men's Basketball // HC Broncos Athletics
HASTINGS – The Hastings College men’s basketball team got off to a slow start but battled back to defeat Midland 85-76 on Tuesday evening inside Lynn Farrell Arena.
The Broncos knew that Midland was going to be tough inside the paint and the Warriors wasted little time going down low to Brayden Thompson and Midland leaned on him to build an early 21-11 lead. Hastings would settle down getting a Quinn Johnson three followed by a Reggie Thomas mid-range jumper to make it 21-16 as the Broncos were right back in the game.
After the Warriors got back up 28-21, Johnson worked the ball inside the Danilo Matovic for the layup followed by a jumper from Anthony Thompson as the lead was down to three with 7:27 to go in the first half.
It stayed a three points until Thomas picked up an and one as he got the free throw to fall as the game was tied for the first time since it was 0-0 with just under 5:00 to go in the half. After the teams traded buckets, Tyrique McMurrin knocked down two free throws and then Matovic got another bucket from the block as HC now led 36-32. Midland came back with a jumper but then Thomas got free for an open three and drained it to make it 39-34. On the ensuing possession, Thomas picked the pocked of Derek Merwick and took it coast-to-coast for the layup as the Warriors called another timeout with HC up 41-34. The Broncos took a 43-37 lead into the break.
The Broncos did build the lead up to as many as 10 points but the Warriors would fight their way back into the game and eventually took a 55-52 lead following a 10-0 run with just over 11:00 to go in the game as Hastings called a timeout.
After the teams traded threes, Grady Corrigan knocked down a jumper and after a defensive stop, Thompson found a wide open Johnson for another three as the Broncos regained the lead 60-58 with 9:00 to go.
Midland again battled back to tie the game but McMurrin got a great pass from Thomas and would make the layup plus the harm as HC now led 66-63 with 7:12 to go. Thomas then found an opening and knocked down a jumper and then after Matovic picked the pocket of Thompson, Thomas got to the rack for the layup as the lead was now at seven with 5:04 to go as Midland called another timeout.
Down the stretch after the Warriors got to within three, Hastings needed someone to step up and Corrigan did just that as he buried a huge three with 3:16 to go to put the Broncos up 74-68 with 3:16 left in the contest. Then with 2:24 to go, Thomas showed he has ice in his veins as well as he buried a three right in the defenders face to put Hastings up eight with 2:14 to go. Midland would get to within four but Matovic would get an offensive put back with :45 to go to seal the victory for the Broncos as they came away with the nine point victory.
Hastings finished the game shooting 54.2 percent (32-for-59) while Midland shot 50 percent (27-for-54). Rebounding favored the Broncos 32-to-26.
Thomas led the way with a game high 27 points on 11-of-15 shooting as he pulled down six boards and dished out seven assists. Johnson added 16 points off the bench while Corrigan finished with 14, Matovic added 11 points while pulling down a game high eight boards and McMurrin finished with 10 points.
Hastings improves to 6-2 (3-0) on the year and will be back in action Wednesday Nov. 29 as Doane comes to town with tipoff set for 7:45 pm inside Lynn Farrell Arena.