Hornets Overtake Eutectics in Final Minutes of High-Speed Matchup

ST. LOUIS, MO. – In what always promises to be a fast-paced exciting game, the Eutectic men's basketball team's annual home matchup with cross-town American Midwest Conference (AMC) rival Harris-Stowe State University (4-14) did not disappoint on Thursday night in the UHSP gym. Junior guard Jasmin Suvalija was on fire, breaking the Eutectic record for three-point field goals in a game, draining nine of 17 attempts, while newcomer Brennan Walker earned his first double double and highest point-total of the season with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Still, the HSSU Hornets stung the Euts in the final minutes of the close game, taking home a 103-99 victory.  

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

HSSU 103, UHSP 99

• The Hornets took the lead from the start, but after 10 minutes, Jasmin Suvalija drained one of his nine threes of the night, to claim UHSP's first lead at 24-22 just before the 10-minute mark.
• Down 40-39 with less than five minutes in the first half, the Eutectics went on a 10-point run, to take their largest lead of the night at 49-40. By the halftime buzzer, HSSU had made up some ground, but still lagged behind at 51-47.
• The Hornets scored eight points in a row from the paint to take the lead at 59-58 at 16:30 in the second half and the teams exchanged the lead for the next couple of minutes. The Eutectics regained the momentum with key points from Suvalija, Landon Engelage, and Walker pushing the Purple and Gold to a 78-70 lead with about 10 minutes left.
• The Hornets made a few challenges, but it was a jump shot from Jalen Watson, assisted by Antonio Trotter at 4:27 that put the visitors up 88-86 – a lead they would not relinquish.
• With less than 30 seconds left, a Walker put-back got the Euts within two points at 98-96, but the Hornets' Umar Lawson quickly answered with a dunk. A layup from Bryant Odunayo put the Euts within three at 102-99 with a few seconds on the clock. But, the Hornet's Nashawn Davis made one of his two final free throws to secure the win for HSSU.
• Led by Suvalija's record-breaking nine, UHSP made 13 threes on 32 attempts from the arc. They outrebounded the Hornets 48-39, but committed 25 fouls compared to the Hornets' 15, allowing the Hornets 32 chances at the charity stripe. Despite having eight fewer attempts, the Hornets shot 10% better than the Euts (54.9%-44.6%) from the field.  
• Jasmin Suvalija and Brennan Walker led the Eutectics on offense with 31 and 25 points, respectively. Landon Engelage (16 points, seven rebounds) and David Moore (11 points, nine assists) also reached double figures. The rest of UHSP's points came from Bryant Odunayo (8), Greg Anderson (3), Carmell Bostwick (3), and Christian Harwood  (2).
• Two HSSU players surpassed 30 points: Umar Lawson (33) and Nashawn Davis (30).

NEXT UP:

Now 3-16 overall and 0-6 in the AMC, the Eutectics' next scheduled Conference game at Columbia College on Saturday has been postponed due to inclement weather. Instead, the UHSP team will remain at home for their next game, hosting Central Baptist College (Ark.)(6-13, 3-4 AMC) on Thursday, Jan. 29^th, at 7:30 p.m.