Prince George's Men's Basketball Falls In Maryland JUCO Opener To Harford

BEL AIR, Md. – Prince George's Community College held the lead for nearly 12 minutes in the first half and continued to battle Harford Community College before Harford went on for the victory in in Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MD JUCO) men's basketball action on Tuesday.

Alex Morales (Paterson, N.J./Manchester Catholic) paced the Owls (3-1, 1-0 MD JUCO) with 16 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. The sophomore has reached double figures in all four tilts this season including a pair of 20-point performances. In addition, he has led the team in rebounds in all four games and paces the team with 20.8 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. The sophomore has scored double figures 22 times in his career.

Jordan Hicks (Largo, Md./Henry Wise) matched his career high of 16 points and Tunde Scrivner (Washington, D.C./H.D. Woodson) each added 14 points in the 94-79 loss. Scrivner also registered six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Hicks, who has reached double figures in points in three of the four contests, also scored 16 points in his collegiate debut against Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology on Nov. 6. Hicks is averaging 11.5 points per game this season. Scrivner has reached double figures in points in all five games in college and ranks second on the team with a 14.0 points per game average.

Prince George's got off to a hot start in the game to take the lead for much of the first half. 

The Owls jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the first six minutes thanks to eight points by Morales and five points from Miles Weaver (Alexandria, Va./Takoma Academy). 

Harford rallied with a 19-6 run to take a 24-20, Prince George's scored the next six points to take a 26-24 lead with 5:22 on the clock. Hicks, Scrivner and Moetaz Ashkar (Landover Hills, Md./Parkdale) each had two points in this span. 

With the Fighting Owls clinging to a 31-30 lead with 2:07 on the clock, Harford closed the half on an 11-2 run to go into the locker room with a 42-32 advantage.

The Fighting Owls continued to add to its margin in the second half before the Owls used a 9-2 run keyed by five points from Dexter Turner (Washington, D.C./Idea Public Charter) to cut the deficit to 77-64 with 6:08 remaining, but Prince George's could get no closer the rest of the way.

Ashkar and Turner both finished with eight points while Turner also had six rebounds and two assists on the night.

Prince George's returns to action on Sunday at home against SUNY Sullivan. Game time is 2 p.m.