Miners get early jump on Hawks to open GLVC play on winning note

ROLLA, Mo. - Over the first five games of the season, Missouri S&T's men's basketball team has made big runs at the start of the second half in each of those contests. But on Thursday night, the Miners didn't wait until after the intermission to make that run - they did it in the first half as they built a 16-point lead by halftime and went on to post a decisive 75-51 http://sports.mst.edu/custompages/mbb/2010-11/11MB06.HTM  win over Quincy in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both teams.

The Miners led from start to finish, beginning with Tommy Pelczynski's basket 16 seconds into the game to put them in front. S&T led by seven early in the contest, saw the Hawks draw to within three on a jumper by Josh Edmonds at the 13:41 mark, then beginning with a three-pointer by Aaron Hays on the next trip down the floor ran off the next 13 points to take a 28-12 with just under nine minutes remaining in the half.

S&T would lead by as many as 22 in the opening half before the Hawks got a pair of three-pointers before it ended to cut the margin to 16 at the break.

However, the Miners got the lead back over 20 points early in the second half and eventually led by as many as 25 in the latter stages of the game to complete their first victory over the Hawks and first win in a conference opener in the six seasons that they have been a member of the GLVC.

The Miners held Quincy to 35.3 percent shooting in the game and did not allow a single Hawk player to score in double figures - just as the S&T women's team had done in its win over Quincy in the opening game of Thursday's doubleheader.    The hosts also dominated on the boards, as S&T outrebounded Quincy by a 43-26 margin behind a 12-rebound effort from Maurice Grinter, the conference's leader in that category when play began Thursday.

S&T had three players in double figures, led by Bryce Foster with a season-high 23 points. Carlton Westbrook added 15 points and Pelczynski had 12. Foster also had nine rebounds to assist the Miners' efforts on the boards, while Grinter and Hays had four assists apiece.

Tyler Thompson and Christian Simmons had nine points apiece to lead the Hawks (3-2, 0-1 GLVC).
The Miners, 4-2 overall, will host Illinois-Springfield Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bullman Multi-Purpose Building. Saturday's game will be Boys & Girls Town of Missouri Day; fans who bring outdoor basketballs to the game will get one free admission to the game.