Hoops Survive Against Beirut, 88-86
In a nail-biting D1M contest at Michel El Murr Complex, Hoops escaped with a 88-86 victory over Beirut on Tuesday, December 9. Trazarien White led the charge for Hoops with a game-high 25 points. The lead changed hands 8 times before Hoops eventually pulled away for good.
Beirut took a 45-43 lead into halftime, but Hoops mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Beirut 45-41 after the break. The second quarter was the decisive stretch, with Beirut outscoring their opponents 26-19 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with D. Hamilton (Beirut) throwing down a powerful slam in the second quarter. D. Hamilton (Beirut) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter during a crucial stretch. D. Hamilton was a force on the defensive end with 3 blocks.
Trazarien White was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists in 40 minutes of action. He shot 9-of-16 (56%) from the field, 2-of-5 (40%) from three-point range, 5-of-8 (63%) from the free-throw line. Kedrian Johnson provided valuable support with 16 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, including 4 three-pointers. Nemanja Mlosevic also chipped in with 10 points off the starting lineup.
Hoops's bench was a major factor, contributing 23 points off the pine. Omar Al Jamal was the standout reserve, providing 8 points, 3 rebounds in a spark-plug role. Hoops also generated 17 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Hoops held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 46% compared to Beirut's 53%.
Beirut committed 20 turnovers compared to Hoops's 9, leading to 24 points off turnovers for Hoops. Hoops was in control for much of the game, putting together a 11-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Hoops put together a 11-0 run in the first quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Down the stretch, Hoops came up clutch when it mattered most. T. White nailed a clutch free throw with 00:04 remaining to help seal the victory. It was a white-knuckle finish that had both benches on their feet until the final buzzer.
In a losing effort, Albert James English fought hard for Beirut, finishing with 32 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists. Daniel Dominique Hamilton added 17 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.