Dec. 30, 2011

Box Score

DANVILLE, KY - Junior Alex Pandrangi posted his second straight double-double as one of four Blue Jays to finish in double figures to lead Johns Hopkins to a 76-61 win over Berry in the consolation game of the Papa John's/Country Hearth Inn Tournament at Centre College Friday. The Blue Jays get back in the win column and wrap up the 2011 portion of their schedule with a 6-2 record. The Vikings meanwhile, remain winless on the season at 0-11.

Coming out of the half, Cody Marsh hit a jumper to cut the Blue Jays' lead to two just 27 seconds in. But Hopkins answered with a 13-0 run to push out to a 55-40 lead less than six minutes later. Pandrangi got things going with five straight points, before senior Tim McCarty sandwiched two buckets around a pair of free throws from freshman George Bugarinovic. Pandrangi would then cap the run with a fast-break layup off an Adam Spengler steal.

Berry came back with an 8-2 run to trim the deficit back to nine with 8:13 to play. But a triple from freshman Jimmy Hammer kick-started a 12-4 run that saw the Blue Jays take a 69-52 lead. Bugarinovic fueled the rally with seven straight points, while Pandrangi punctuated the spurt with a put back off a Spengler miss. Hopkins would go five-of-six from the free throw line in the final three minutes to seal the win.

Hopkins got back-to-back baskets from Spengler and Bugarinovic to start a game in which it never trailed. Berry made it a one-point game three times over the opening four minutes, but each time JHU answered. Leading 16-13, Pandrangi put back a missed three followed by a Hammer layup to start a quick 8-2 spurt as the Blue Jays took a nine-point advantage.

Berry kept clawing back, not letting the game get out of hand in the opening half. But each time, Hopkins responded. The Blue Jays led by seven after Spengler and Bugarinovic sandwiched buckets around a Cody Marsh layup with 2:08 to play in the half. Hunter Smoak would then hit from down town, one of his two triples on the night, to make it a 42-38 game at the break.

McCarty scored a game and season-high 16 points while also pulling seven rebounds. Pandrangi finished with 13 points and 11 boards, while also blocking two shots to earn all-tournament team honors. Bugarinovic (15 points) and Hammer (11 points) also finished in double figures. It was the first time since February 1, 2010, a 65-58 win over McDaniel, that four Blue Jays finished in double digits. Smoak and Lake Graham led the Vikings with 16 points apiece, while Graham also grabbed 12 boards to post a double-double. The Blue Jays defense clamped down in the second half, holding the Vikings to just 29.2 percent (7-24) from the field and zero percent (0-6) from three-point range.

Hopkins returns to action on Tuesday, January 3 in the 21st annual Blue Jay Invitational. Hopkins will host the City College of New York at 7:00 pm in Goldfarb Gym. Hood and Rutgers-Newark will square off in the first game at 5:00 pm.