Hawks drop back-to-backers to OUAZ
- Updated: February 18, 2021
SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS MEN’S BASKETBALL
ECS staff report
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Similar to the National Hockey League, the Golden State Athletic Conference has elected to go to a two-game series in one location rather than play a home-and-away schedule to help minimize the exposure to Covid-19 virus.
And like their hockey brethren, teams that easily win the first game don’t necessarily come back to take the second leg.
On Tuesday (Feb. 16), San Diego Christian College was in a similar situation. After dropping Monday’s opener to Ottawa University of Arizona, 98-74, the Hawks came firing back in an attempt to salvage a split, just like they recently did to Life Pacific. However, they came up just short in a narrow 75-73 setback.
With the Hawks leading 73-72, Josiah De’Lacerra sank a free throw to knot the contest, then the senior broke free for a layin at the buzzer to again break the hearts of the Hawks. SDCC held the ball for the last shot to break the tie, but a steal by Kolten Hitt with four seconds left led to the winning basket for OUAZ (10-4 overall,5-3 GSAC East Division).
Over the final 3:39, there were eight lead changes after SDCC rallied from a 61-54 deficit with 7:24 remaining.
For San Diego Christian, Teyden Gauge led the way with 18 points, followed by 15 from Greg Chew, who posted 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double of the series.
In Monday’s series opener, Gause again led with 21 points, but the defense allowed 49 points in each half in falling.
San Diego Christian (1-13, 1-7) completes the regular season this weekend, hosting The Master’s on Friday and Saturday.
