ELSAH, IL – The Principia men's basketball team hosted the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy for an early season, non-conference clash in Hay Field House on Monday night. It was a back-and-forth affair that ended with a 19-9 run by the Eutectics in the final 7 minutes to defeat the Panthers 71-65.
Principia point guard
Nolan Simon picked up where he left off on Saturday and got the team rolling with an early three-pointer on the Panthers first possession. After UHSP jumped out to a 24-17 lead with 6:30 to go in the first half, Principia went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead on a
Bobby Alford III lay up. The first half would end with the Panthers trailing 33-31.
The second half was full of lead changes as each side looked to seize momentum. After an
Abe Pogue three ball and
Charley Hoffman lay up put Principia up 56-52 with 8:25 to play, the Eutectics would take control of the rest of the game. UHSP outscored the Panthers by 10 down the stretch as Principia was unable to get stops and hit their shots. A key to the Eutectics victory was outscoring the Panthers by 20 in the paint and capitalizing on their second chances as they scored 16 points from offensive rebounds.
For the second straight game, the Panthers were led by
Nolan Simon and
Isaiah Parker, who each finished with 14 points. Simon also added a team-high 6 rebounds and 4 steals.
Bobby Alford III was a reliable presence at the line, going 7-for-7 to tally 13 points, while
Charley Hoffman and
Abe Pogue each contributed 7 points.
Principia will their play first away game of the season on Saturday when they travel to Iowa to face Grinnell College at 1:00 pm CT.
