The resolve and determination of the Hopkins men’s basketball team was on display once again this past Saturday against Swarthmore, as the team rallied from a 20-point deficit in the second half to improve to 19-2 on the season and 13-1 in the Centennial Conference. The win marks the 16th straight victory for the Blue Jays.
Trailing 46-26 with 12:41 remaining in the contest, the Jays would close the game on a 30-9 run to pull off the unlikely 56-55 victory.
Perhaps even more impressively, the deficit was 18 points with only 7:41 to go following back-to-back jumpers by Swarthmore standout Chris Bourne.
However, Hopkins once again rapidly gained momentum on the strength of a pair of free throws from senior Jimmy Hammer that initiated a 23-4 run to close out the contest. The Jays hit six more free throws, followed by a decisive bucket from behind the three-point line by Hammer. This pushed the deficit to single digits with 5:25 left in the contest.
When asked to comment on the ability of the Jays to rally from the 20-point, second half deficit, the standout senior guard pointed to the improved defensive pressure and a heightened offensive intensity.
“In the second half, we played with much more intensity, especially on the defensive end,” Hammer said. “We also shot better after shooting terribly in the first half. We threw in a press in the second half and were able to force Swarthmore into turnovers, which led to easy baskets.”
In addition to sparking the rally that would seal the victory for the Jays, Hammer led all scorers with 22 points. This was his 15th game in a row scoring 20 or more points.
Hammer attributed his scoring proficiency to both his own hard work and dedication and to the unselfishness of his teammates.
“I think I’ve been able to score because of how hard I’ve worked throughout my life. I am always working on my shot,” Hammer said. “I’ve also been able to succeed in scoring because my teammates find me when I am open and set great screens for me to get open.”
Possessing a 55-48 lead with 3:24 remaining in the second half, Swarthmore was held scoreless for the remainder of the contest by the shutdown defense of the Jays.
More foul shots from Hammer and a three-pointer from sophomore forward Ryan Curran narrowed the deficit to two with 42 seconds remaining in the game. Following a miss by the Garnet, the ball was controlled and rebounded by senior forward George Bugarinovic.
On the ensuing possession, the ball was inbounded by sophomore Nikhil Panu to Curran, who converted a driving layup at the basket and was fouled. He made the subsequent free throw, which put the Jays up for good with 23 seconds remaining. A Swarthmore three at the buzzer clanged off the rim and preserved the one-point margin for the Jays.
The win reassured the Jays of their abilities to find ways to come out on top.
“This was a big step for our team because it proved we can play from behind and have very good composure,” Curran said. “I think this is because we are a very veteran team with great leadership, which will hopefully help us out for the remainder of the season and come playoff time.”
Curran and Hammer were the only Hopkins players to finish in double figures, with Hammer chipping in 22 points and six boards and Curran contributing 11 points of his own. Bugarinovic additionally contributed five points, eight critical boards and four assists to pace the team.
Hopkins returns to action Feb. 11 as it tries to extend its 16-game winning streak against Centennial Conference contender Gettysburg at Goldfarb Gym. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. The last time the Jays took on the Bullets was Dec. 2 as an away team. Hopkins battled to a 68-52 victory back then, and they will look to replicate its success.
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