Box Score BALTIMORE, Md.—An early first half run and near perfect free throw shooting lifted Johns Hopkins University past Keene State College, 95-78, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship at Goldfarb Gym on Saturday night.
Keene State sees their season come to an end at 20-9. The Blue Jays improve to 24-4, and will play Skidmore College on Saturday for the right to advance to the round of 16.
The Owls took an 11-8 lead on a wide open three pointer from Nate Stitchell. The Blue Jays responded with an 18-4 run over the next few minutes to open up a 26-15 advantage at the third media timeout.
Keene State closed within 29-20 on another three, this one from Ozzella, but the Blue Jays got five straight points from Hammer to increase their lead to 34-20 with six minutes left in the first half.
Hammer scored eight consecutive points, helping the Blue Jays to a 47-29 lead at halftime.
Johns Hopkins shot 60% in the first half, including 6-of-12 from long range.
KSC opened the second half with renewed energy, as consecutive layups from Wright and Doyle cut the lead to 51-37, but Johns Hopkins continued to pour it on, taking a 65-46 lead at the second media timeout of the second half.
Tom Doyle scored off an inbounds play in the second half to reach the 1,200 point mark for his career. The senior finished with 15 points to give him 1,201, in 18th place in school history. Nate Stitchell was the only other KSC player in double figures, also with 15 points.
The Blue Jays out rebounded KSC 45-24 for the game, and made 42 of 47 shots from the free throw line.
Hammer finished with 29 points for the Blue Jays, while George Bugarinovic had a double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
The future is bright for the Owls, who return all but one player from this year's squad that advanced to the NCAA tournament for the third time in school history. This marked the first time that KSC did not open the tournament at home, and the first time that the Owls lost a tourney opener. The Owls are 4-3 all-time in the NCAA tournament.
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