Jan. 31, 2004

Box Score

Baltimore, MD - Johns Hopkins freshman forward Danny Nawrocki (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) recorded his fifth double-double of the season by posting game-highs of 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Blue Jays men's basketball team to a 74-51 win over Muhlenberg Saturday afternoon at Goldfarb Gymnasium.

The Blue Jays impoved to 12-5 overall and 8-3 in the Centennial Conference, extending their school-record home winning streak to 22 games, while the Mules fell to 6-11 overall and 4-7 in league play.

Hopkins used an early 13-4 run to take an 18-9 lead following a lay-up by Nawrocki at the 13:44 mark, and the Blue Jays pushed their advantage to 25-14 when sophomore guard Jeff Thompson (Binghamton, NY/Loomis Chaffee) hit a three-pointer with 6:59 left in the period.

Muhlenberg scored five of the next six points to cut the lead to 26-19, but Hopkins responded with seven straight points to take its largest lead of the half at 33-19 with 1:42 to play. The Mules answered with five consecutive points, but JHU senior guard Matt Righter (Clarion, PA/Lawrenceville Prep) nailed a late jumper to give the Blue Jays a 35-24 lead at the half.

Muhlenberg cut the Hopkins advantage to 37-30 early in the second half and trailed by just nine at 45-36 at the 13:56 mark, but the Blue Jays pulled away with a 13-2 run over the ensuing six minutes to go up 58-38 with 7:50 to play. Freshman guard TJ Valerio (Blue Bell, PA/St. Joseph's Prep) hit a three-pointer to ignite the spurt, and Nawrocki followed with tip-in. After Justin Fields scored for the Mules, senior guard Kevin Marquez (Oakton, VA/Oakton) and freshman forward Matt Griffin (Glen Mills, PA/Penncrest) scored baskets to make it a 54-38 game with 10:20 remaining.

Thompson and Valerio capped the run as they each converted lay-ups to give the Blue Jays the 20-point lead.

Hopkins again led by 20 at 65-45 with 5:30 left before going on a 9-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 74-45 with 2:01 to play. Nawrocki opened the spurt with a lay-up, followed by two free throws by sophomore guard Frank Mason (Silver Spring, MD/Barrie School). After freshman forward Zack Armen (Manhasset, NY/Manhasset) added a lay-up, freshman forward Pat Ward (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) hit a free throw and a lay-up to put the Blue Jays up 29 before the Mules closed the game with six straight points.

Toback was the only other double-figure scorer for Hopkins with 10 points to go with a career-high five assists, while Marquez added eight points. Jimmy O'Brien led Muhlenberg with 15 points for the Mules, who were out-rebounded, 50-22, for the game.

The Blue Jays, who are now in sole possession of second place in the conference after McDaniel's 85-84 win over Ursinus Saturday, travel to Swarthmore Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game with the Garnet Tide.

Box Score:            1   2       FMuhlenberg (6-11, 4-7 Centennial)           24  27  -   51Johns Hopkins  (12-5, 8-3 Centennial)       35  39  -   74