Hastings Comes Up Just Short at Fort Lauderdale
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hastings | 42 | 28 | 70 |
|
University of Fort Lauderdale | 39 | 38 | 77 |
(North Miami, FL) – The Hastings Broncos took a 65-64 lead with 5:26 left against Fort Lauderdale, but the Eagles came back to win 77-70 on Wednesday.
In the first half, sophomore David Hageman put the Broncos ahead by scoring at the rim to open the game. Sophomore Hunter Hill scored the next three Hastings baskets, but Fort Lauderdale grew their lead to 13-9, prompting a timeout. With the Eagles 15-11, junior Christian Pujals scored the next eight Bronco points, tying the game up at 19 in the process with 12:35 left in the opening half.
Freshman Maverick Binder gave Hastings a 24-21 lead on a deep ball and a pair of free throws. Later in the half, junior DaRon Hall drew multiple fouls and capitalized by making three of four from the line to hold the 27-25 lead.
The Eagles retook the lead at 33-32, but the game would stay close the rest of the half. Hageman provided a big lift in the final two minutes of the period, drilling a three, grabbing a steal, and scoring a layup to give Hastings a 42-39 halftime advantage. Pujals led the game in scoring at the break with 13 points.
In the second half, Fort Lauderdale opened with an 8-0 run to go up 47-42. Sophomore Ben Boudreau, Pujals and Binder each knocked down threes over the next few minutes, but the Eagles still clung to a six-point lead with 12 minutes left.
A Pujals layup and another three-pointer from Binder brought the Broncos to within one, then Pujals knocked down a jumper to take a 60-59 lead with 10 minutes left. Fort Lauderdale drilled a three, then Hageman responded with a two of his own to tie the game at 62-apiece with 6:32 left.
Hastings took a 65-64 lead on the third three of the half from Binder, but that was quickly answered by a 5-0 Eagle run. With Hastings trailing 70-67 with a minute left, the Broncos got called for a foul on a three, which the Eagles capitalized on to go up six. Then, with under a minute to go, junior Myles Simon drained a three from the corner to cut the lead to 73-70.
Two free throws by the Eagles put them up five, then they rebounded Simon's missed three on the next possession, putting the finishing touches on the 77-70 defeat.
Pujals led the Broncos in scoring with 22 points, along with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Binder came off the bench to hit four threes, scoring 15 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists. Hageman contributed 9 points and 4 rebounds, while Boudreau had eight points and four rebounds. Hall, who leads the team in scoring, was held to seven points, but had a team-high six assists, and four rebounds.
The Broncos will resume conference play after Christmas, with a road game at Friends on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 1pm.
