Second half surge lifts Hawks past Fleet

Published 11:18 am Wednesday, February 8, 2023

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DUE WEST, SC – The Chowan men’s basketball team put their talons into the Flying Fleet in the second half to rally back for the 77-66 victory in Conference Carolinas action against Erskine here Saturday afternoon.

Daylan Askew led the Hawks with 19 points, while Isaac Hippolyte and Jay Estime added 16 points each. Hippolyte recorded his first double-double of the season with 11 rebounds. Christian Koonce tallied 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Hawks outscored Erskine 45-29 in the second half after trailing 37-32 at halftime. Chowan’s defense forced Erskine to shoot 21.0% (8-38) in the second half including going 0-22 to start the half.

With Erskine’s offense sputtering, Chowan went to work to open the second half. Hippolyte led that rally, scoring eight points (three baskets and a pair of free throws). A three-point play from Koonce and a basket by Estime added to Chowan’s rally as they raced out to a 47-38 lead.

Askew added a pair of layups in transition to stretch the lead to double-digits. Estime connected from deep prior to a pair from the stripe by Koonce and Hippolyte. Askew hit a three-pointer before Erskine connected from the floor for the first time in the half at the 6:58 mark.

Askew added five more points along with a jumper by Preston Le Gassick kept the lead at 22, 68-46. Skyler Davies and Cheick Traore recorded dunks as the bench was emptied in the final minutes of the contest.

Chowan (10-10 overall; 8-7 in league play) returns home for a rivalry contest as the Hawks host Mount Olive on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The Conference Carolinas contest is slated for a 7 pm tipoff.