Basketball Holds Off Hopkins for Home Win

Brunswick held off a late Hopkins rally, beating the Hilltoppers by a 49-46 score on Wednesday in Dann Gym. The victory gives the Bruins (4-12, 3-8) an FAA season split with Hopkins, as the Hilltoppers (6-10, 3-9) picked up a 48-39 win over Brunswick back on January 5.

 

Leading 27-25 at the break, Brunswick went on a 6-0 run to open the second half, capped by a lay-up by Chisom Okpara (18 points) at 13:26. Henry Caponiti (11 points) set-up the bucket after swiping the ball from a Hilltopper deep in Hopkins’ territory.

 

Later in the half, Hopkins trimmed the Brunswick lead to 37-34 on a driving lay-up with 10:05 left. The basket sparked a 5-0 burst by the Bruins, boosting the hosts’ lead to 42-34 with 8:38 remaining.

 

With 6:28 left to play, Brunswick’s Sam Mazzullo scored his only basket after collecting a steal and dribbling in for a lay-up and a 46-38 lead.

 

Late in the game, Colin Mulshine (eight points) netted the final point for the Bruins with a free throw with 1:42 remaining, setting the score at 49-43.

 

Hopkins made it a one-possession game after draining a three-pointer with 1:16 left.

 

In the 49-46 game, Brunswick missed a long jumper, as Hopkins got the rebound. The visitors failed to score on the offensive end, as Brunswick got possession of the ball. After a non-shooting Hopkins foul, Brunswick turned the ball over on an in-bounds play and the Hilltoppers called time-out with 18.4 seconds left in the game.

 

Following the time-out, Hopkins in-bounded the ball and worked for a last-second, game-tying three pointer. However, the well-contested, NBA-range trey was well off the mark, as the Bruins held on for the 49-46 victory.

 

Brunswick returns to action at Hamden Hall on Friday, February 8.