Early turnovers cost Broncos vs. Wildcats
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The Wildcats held an advantage from the opening tip, using their quickness to create seven turnovers by the Broncos. Ben Skinner and Derrick Hogans came up with back-to-back steals, which put the Wildcats on top early 7-0. Lucas Majors scored for Boyd at the 5:53 mark, but David Brainerd ran off 10 unanswered points, including two 3-pointers by Matt Keebler.
The Broncos tried to slow the Wildcats down with backcourt pressure, but the Wildcats broke the press with long passes. Tyler Hillis added three points to the Broncos? total as the period ended with David Brainerd leading 19-6.
The Wildcats opened the second period with five straight points off of two turnovers. Boyd?s offense produced 16 points in the period, with baskets from Hillis, Lance Chandler, Mitchell Young and a 3-pointer by Majors. But the Wildcats Keebler answered with another 3-pointer, but by the end of the half the Broncos had narrowed the margin down to eight at 30-22.
Boyd did a much better job of protecting the ball in the second period. But Keebler and Derrick Hogans proved to be too much to handle. Keebler hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game at the 5:23 mark. Hillis scored four points in the period for Boyd as Matt Davis and Young chipped in one basket each. Hogans added a basket for the Wildcats just before the buzzer putting David Brainerd out in front 41-33.
The Broncos had few chances to rally in the final period. Majors hit for six points and Hillis added five including a 3-pointer. The Broncos sent David Brainerd to the free-throw line hoping to make up some ground on missed opportunities. But the Wildcats came through from the line, hitting 11-of-16 to secure the victory.
Hillis lead all scorers with 22 points. Majors had 12, Young added six, Lance Chandler had four, Matt Davis and Cole Stubblefield had two points each for the Broncos.
For the Wildcats, Keebler had 18, Brooks Theoford hit for 13 and Hogans had 11.