The Blackhawks came out shooting well at the beginning of the game and stayed consistent throughout as they beat the host Rockets by a 75-53 final.
The Hawks came out aggressive from the outside and also attacking the rim, as Talon Mueller started with a drive to the rim for a hoop, followed by back-to-back threes by Winston Poehler and Colton Paczkowski, jumping on the Rockets 8-0. Mueller earned another two with a putback inside and Poehler hit his second three early in the game. Spencer then hit shots of their own making it 13-11. Countering that, Talon Mueller hit Poehler again for a three and Paczkowski hit a mid-range jumper off a Sam Wells pass. The Muellers would then hit back-to-back threes, first Clay, then Talon making it 28-24. Towards the end of the half the Hawks pulled away with a Paczkowski drive, a Preston Fritz fastbreak, Poehler three, and more drives from Clay Mueller and Fritz. That was a 13-5 run right before halftime, 41-31.
More offense and better defense for the Blackhawks in the second half along with more threes from the outside and drives to the rim. Threes from Clay Mueller, Talon Mueller and Poehler from the outside kept the Rockets defense stretched out as drives from Poehler, Fritz, Paczkowski and the Muellers kept them guessing. The Rockets did make a run, cutting it to fourteen 66-52 late, but the Hawks countered with hoops from Fritz, Paczkowski, and Clay Mueller at the end, winning 75-53.
The Blackhawks made 50% of their threes (11 for 22), outrebounded the Rockets 38-29, and finished with 14 steals and only 12 turnovers.
Box Score: Poehler 23 pts, 10 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls; T. Mueller 18 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts; C. Mueller 14 pts, 5 rebs, 2 asts, 3 stls; Paczkowski 12 pts, 2 rebs, 5 asts, 3 stls; Fritz 8 pts, 8 rebs, 2 stls; Wendler 7 rebs, 2 asts, 3 blks; Wells 1 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl; Treankler 1 stl.
Coach's Comments
Very consistent tonight as our threes were going in, as the extra shooting is paying off. We took good shots, as we always do, but the tempo reversing the ball on offense along with player movement on the backside of our offense was tremendous tonight. The guys kept screening and stepping out for rhythm shots. I do not want to overlook the work that we did on the defensive end shutting down Spencer's inside game with Wendler and Poehler walling up and their teammates digging down.