Head-Royce erased a nine-point second-half deficit with a 13-0 run and beat Athenian 74-66 on the road Wednesday, Jan. 18, to improve to 6-0. The Jayhawks controlled the glass, outrebounding Athenian 39-22, and outscored the hosts 27-12 after halftime.
The first period produced 10 of the game's 13 ties. Athenian scored three straight baskets, two off turnovers, to lead 12-8 before Head-Royce answered with an 8-0 run. Bryce started it with a second-chance basket, Marcel and Osagie followed with field goals, and Marcel scored off a turnover to make it 16-12. Johnny's 3-pointer, assisted by Andre, pushed the lead to 19-15. Micah's basket off a Bryce assist put Head-Royce up 31-28 late in the period, but Athenian hit a three to tie it 31-31 after one.
Athenian opened the second period on a 7-0 run for a 35-31 lead. Andre answered with a three, and after Athenian went back up 38-34, Marcel scored twice, the first on a second-chance basket, and Andre scored off a turnover for a 40-38 Jayhawks lead. Athenian scored the next five points, and Jaden kept Head-Royce close with two baskets. Marcus hit a three from Bryce to cut the deficit to 48-47, but Athenian closed the half with two threes, one off a turnover, to lead 54-47 at the break.
Athenian scored first after halftime to go up 56-47. Marcel answered with a second-chance basket and a free throw, and Andre's three made it 58-53. Two Athenian baskets rebuilt the lead to 62-53, the largest of the night for either team. From there, Head-Royce scored 13 straight. Osagie converted a second-chance basket, Micah scored off a turnover, Uche Okereke finished a Bryce assist and Micah hit a three to tie it 62-62. Micah then put the Jayhawks ahead for good at 64-62, and Bryce scored off a turnover to make it 66-62.
Athenian pulled within 66-64, but Micah answered and Marcel made two free throws for a 70-64 lead. Bryce made three free throws and Okereke added one as Head-Royce closed on a 21-4 run. The eight-point final margin was the Jayhawks' largest lead of the game.
Marcel led Head-Royce with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 11 rebounds (five offensive) and three blocks. Micah added 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting, with nine of them in the second half. Bryce ran the offense with seven assists to go with seven points, six rebounds and two steals. Andre scored eight points on 3-of-4 shooting, went 2 for 3 from 3-point range and blocked four shots. Okereke had seven points and nine rebounds, six on the offensive end.
Head-Royce shot 45.5 percent (30 of 66) from the field and held Athenian to 36.5 percent (23 of 63). The Jayhawks had 14 offensive rebounds to Athenian's seven, which gave them a 10-2 edge in second-chance points. They also blocked seven shots and assisted on 12 of their 30 field goals. That was enough to overcome a 10-4 deficit in turnovers and Athenian's 14-of-22 night at the free throw line. The win extended Head-Royce's winning streak to six games and kept the Jayhawks unbeaten at 6-0.