The men’s basketball team is 1-4 with two games remaining before the winter break. On Wednesday night, the squad lost their Centennial Conference opener to the Gettysburg Bullets.
Before Thanksgiving, Hopkins competed in the Pride of Maryland Tournament. The Blue Jays defeated Goucher 57-50 on Friday, November 19, but lost to McDaniel the next day, 62-40.
And on Tuesday, before the holiday, Haverford squeaked by Hopkins 68-64. On Wednesday, the squad traveled to Gettysburg where they faced stiff competition and ultimately fell 73-57.
The Jays have two more home games before the winter break — both against Centennial Conference opponents.
The loss to St. Mary’s put Hopkins in the concolation round of the Pride of Maryland tournament, where they faced Goucher at Stevenson in Westminster MD.
Freshman Matt Kelly came off the bench to lead the Jays in scoring with 12 points. Kelly was 4-7 from the field and 4-8 at the line. Kelly also led the team in rebounds with eight.
Senior Mike Henrici added 10 points and seven rebounds. And junior Tim McCarty posted 11 points, three assists.
Goucher went on a 12-4 run late in the game to bring them within a layup with 1:22 remaining. But Hopkins was able to dwindle enough time off the clock before the Gophers started fouling. Hopkins went 5-6 from the line to seal the win.
The Jays faced the McDaniel Green Terror on Saturday at Stevenson to decide fifth place for the Pride of Maryland tournament. McDaniel beat Hopkins by 22 but only two players scored more than nine points.
Hopkins hasn’t been held to such a low score since Valentine’s Day, 1987.
Nobody broke nine points for Hopkins. McCarty scored eight and freshman big-man Aleksander Nikolic had just as many. McCarty also led the team with five rebounds.
Henrici and senior John Alberici tallied four rebounds each but only four points combined.
Jaraad Rogers sank the only three-point basketball for the Jays. McDaniel put six threes on the board.
The loss sank Hopkins to 1-2 and gave the Jays their first loss in Conference play.
Hopkins then traveled to Haverford, PA for their second Centennial Conference matchup of the season. The Jays lost to the Fords by four points.
The Jays had the lead with two minutes remaining, then missed five shots and gave Haverford two chances at the line where they added three points.
Henrici had a breakout game with a career high of 24 points. He nearly had a double-double with nine rebounds.
Kelly also got the start and put up 13 points and eight rebounds. McCarty only scored three points but had six boards.
The Jays were 29-59 from the field but struggled from beyond the arc again, 2-17.
Before the Gettysburg game, Henrici and Kelly led the team in scoring 41 points. McCarty has 37 and 28 rebounds. Henrici has 24 and Kelly has 19.
Hopkins traveled to Gettysburg, PA on Wednesday night and lost to the Bullets 73-57.
Henrici and Adam Spengler each had 10 points. McCarty led the team in rebounds with five.
Hopkins will host Dickinson this Saturday at 3 p.m. and McDaniel on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Goldfarb Gymnasium.
Then the squad will take a hiatus for the winter break before heading to Ashland, VA for two games on December 30 and 31 against Averett and Randolph MaCaon. Hopkins then returns for intersession to host the Jay invitational with Keene State, Messiah and Stockton.
The Jays return to Centennial Conference action January 8 against Ursinus, at home.
Hopkins head coach Bill Nelson has 498 collegiate wins. This is his 25th season as coach of the Jays.
