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OUAZ Athletics

Jos
87
Park Gilbert PUG 0-1
97
Winner OUAZ OUAZ 1-0
Park Gilbert PUG
0-1
87
Final
97
OUAZ OUAZ
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Park Gilbert PUG 42 45 87
OUAZ OUAZ 42 55 97

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

De'laCerda Scores 26 in Season Opening Win; Williams Adds 12 in Return

On November 9, 2019, OUAZ guard Marcus Williams tore the ACL in his right knee during the program's first game inside Faith Arena. It was a long 356 days back for Williams, but he scored the Spirit's first three points of the season on Friday, and added nine more in his first game back in nearly a full year.

Junior Josiah De'laCerda led OUAZ in scoring with 26 points, and Kolten Hitt added 17 to help the Spirit topple Park-Gilbert 97-87 at the ACU Fultz Classic. This win marks the first time in program history OUAZ has started the season 1-0.

The Spirit had lost its previous two season openers by two points each, and were in for a battle on Friday as the teams were deadlocked at 42 heading into the half. OUAZ jumped out to a 10-point lead with 13:42 remaining, and did not let Park-Gilbert get any closer than seven points the rest of the way.

OUAZ put together a fantastic shooting performance as a team. As a group, OUAZ knocked down 58.3% of its shots, the program's second-best shooting percentage in a single game.

De'laCerda was impressive in his OUAZ debut, grabbing six rebounds and making all of his two-point field goals. He also shot 6-6 from the line, and the only thing keeping him from a perfect shooting night was an 0-4 performance from behind the arc.

Hitt was firing from three-point range all afternoon long. He knocked down four of his five attempts from three, and knocked down three free throws. All of Williams' point came of the three-point variety, as he shot 4-8 from deep.

Point guard Kam Malbrough directed the offense well in his first outing with the Spirit, scoring 13 points and adding three assists. Stephon Bell played a valuable 19 minutes, as he put in 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the process.

OUAZ will have a chance at its first 2-0 start ever when they play in day two of the ACU Fultz Classic. Tip-off against Randall University is scheduled for 1pm from the ACU Events Center.
 
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