#2 Johnson & Wales Stops #7 Men’s Basketball in the GNAC Quarterfinals 83-68

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Second seeded Johnson & Wales proved to be too much for the seventh seeded Suffolk men's basketball team as the Wildcated tamed the Rams, 83-68, in the GNAC Quarterfinals Tuesday night inside the Wildcat Center.   

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 68, Johnson & Wales 83
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-19) | Johnson & Wales (15-11) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a slow start for Suffolk who trailed 9-0 in the first three minutes and fell behind 17-5 at the 12:39 minute mark. Warfa Abdillahi's three started a train reaction of back-and-forth buckets, before a set of freebies from Cameron Powers coupled with a jumper from Michael Hagopian made the margin single digits for the first time since the 17:03 minute mark. 

The Wildcats quickly rebuilt a double figure advantage and took their largest lead of the day, 19, with just 48 seconds remaining to send the Rams into the locker room down 41-22. 

Out of the halftime, JWU continued to roll and gained its first 20-plus point lead on its first possession of the second half. Suffolk made every attempt at a comeback would only come within 13 on three occasions as the Wildcats kept the Rams quiet to cruise to the 83-68 quarterfinals win. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Hagopian poured in a game-high 24 points shooting 9-for-13 from the field including a 5-for-6 showing behind the arc. The sophomore guard added four boards, two steals and one assist to his stat line.
• Thomas Duffy added 14 points on a 6-for-11 showing from the floor in 39 minutes. The freshman brought down three rebounds, handed out two assist and had the lone block of the evening.
• Jim Djema added 12 points in a complete 40-minute game. The sophomore was perfect (4-4) from the line and dished out eight assists.
• Kevin Querusio led the way on the glass for Suffolk with six to go along with four points and two takeaway.
• Suffolk shot 46.8 percent (22-47) from the floor, 50.0 percent (9-18) from three-point range and 88.2 percent (15-17) from the foul line.
• The Wildcats, who also had three reach double digits, owned the edge on the glass, 29-26. 

NOTEABLES

• Hagopian's team-leading24 points marked the fifth time this season the Watertown, Massachusetts, native recorded 20-plus points in a game and second straight game the guard racked up 20-plus points. 

POST-GAME PIC