Beirut Overcome Hoops, 81-70
Beirut pulled away for a convincing 81-70 D1M win over Hoops at Chiyah Arena on Friday, February 6. Daniel Dominique Hamilton led the charge for Beirut with a game-high 26 points and 14 rebounds. The lead changed hands 6 times before Beirut eventually pulled away for good.
Beirut took a 46-39 lead into halftime. The fourth quarter was the decisive stretch, with Beirut outscoring their opponents 25-7 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 5 dunks in total, with O. Al Jamal (Hoops) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. K. Johnson (Hoops) connected from beyond the arc in the first quarter during a crucial stretch. A. Kelly was a force on the defensive end with 4 blocks.
Daniel Dominique Hamilton was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists in 37 minutes of action. He shot 11-of-23 (48%) from the field, 2-of-9 (22%) from three-point range, 2-of-4 (50%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Albert James English provided valuable support with 18 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals. Trayvion Jackson also chipped in with 15 points off the starting lineup.
The Beirut bench added 9 points to the cause. Beirut also generated 13 second-chance points and 20 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Beirut held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 45% compared to Hoops's 36%.
Beirut dominated the boards 43-35, including 13 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions. Beirut owned the paint with 44 points inside to Hoops's 32. Beirut 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 11-0 run in the third quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond. Beirut answered with a 10-0 run of their own, keeping the contest competitive.
Down the stretch, Beirut came up clutch when it mattered most. A. English nailed a clutch free throw with 01:55 remaining to help seal the victory.
Despite the result, Kedrian Johnson showed his quality for Hoops, contributing 25 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists. Amari Kelly added 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.