Antranik Survive Against Hoops, 89-88
In a nail-biting D1M contest at Rockland Arena, Antranik escaped with a 89-88 victory over Hoops on Thursday, November 20. Majur Majak led the charge for Antranik with a game-high 11 points and 18 rebounds. The lead changed hands 8 times before Antranik eventually pulled away for good.
Hoops took a 38-34 lead into halftime, but Antranik mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Hoops 43-39 after the break. The third quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antranik outscoring their opponents 25-12 to swing the momentum in their favor. Hoops closed the game strong with a 27-18 fourth-quarter effort.
The game featured several highlight plays. E. Little (Antranik) threw down a powerful dunk in the first quarter, one of 3 dunks in the game. J. Gambrell JR. (Antranik) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter during a crucial stretch. O. Al Jamal was a force on the defensive end with 10 blocks.
Majur Majak was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 11 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks in 44 minutes of action. He shot 3-of-10 (30%) from the field, 4-of-6 (67%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Emmanuel Little provided valuable support with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. Gabriel Salibi also chipped in with 13 points off the starting lineup.
The Antranik bench added 8 points to the cause. Aldo Kouba was the standout reserve, providing 8 points in a spark-plug role. Antranik also generated 29 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Antranik held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 42% compared to Hoops's 37%. From beyond the arc, Antranik connected on 9-of-30 (30%) while Hoops managed just 6-of-34 (17%).
Antranik's ball movement was superior with 23 assists to Hoops's 18. Antranik was in control for much of the game, putting together a 10-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Hoops put together a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Hoops answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Antranik came up clutch when it mattered most. G. Salibi nailed a key basket with 00:02 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, Trazarien White fought hard for Hoops, finishing with 33 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals. Nemanja Mlosevic added 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.