Strong Second Half Adds Up to Math & Science Academy Win

The Math & Science Academy Dragons were on fire in the second half as Ahmad Elhassan and Charlie Eng had 18 points apiece to lead them to a 76-64 win over the Groves Academy Griffins Tuesday night in St. Louis Park.

It was the Griffins first game since December 20.  They did not play in any holiday tournament.

Groves Academy broke out of the starting gate with a 5-0 run that included a three point play by Larry Mohamed.  Sam Goldstein, who opened the scoring :16 into the game would score four of the Griffins first seven points.  The Dragons would get on the scoreboard on Eng's three pointer.  Manzi Kadoma and Jager Hansen would also score to put Math & Science Academy on a 7-0 run.  Geoves Academy would widen their lead on three pointers by Gabe Gordon and Nick Maiers that would propel the Griffins to a 9-0 run.  Gordon would hit another shot from Highway 100 and Noah Yager would come off the bench and help the Groves Academy attack as the lead would extend further.  Ahamd Elhassan was the bright spot for the Griffins in the first half as he would would score four straight points and the Griffins led at halftime 41-27.

Groves Academy would open the second half on a 5-0 run that would include Gordon's third three pointer.  But things would start to unravel for the Griffins when Mohamed was charged with an intentional foul that would also result in the Dragons retaining possession.  They would use their speed and and outside shooting to cut into the Griffins lead as Eng would hit a pair of three pointers and Nate Stephan would also sink one.  Ahmad Elhassan would connect to cut the Groves Academy lead to one and score another basket to put Math & Science Academy ahead.  The lead would go back and forth until the Dragons started to pull away.  The Griffins would be without Goldstein, who picked up his fifth foul.  Math & Science Academy would score 14 straight points to put the game out of reach and head coach Jamey Strand would clear his bench to give the reserves playing time.

Hansen was the only other Dragon in double figures, scoring 14 points.  Mohamed led the Griffins with 19 points.  Gordon, who hit five three pointers, scored 17 and Goldstein added 10.

Math & Science Academy improved their record to 2-6 and returns to action on Thursday, January 10 as they host the Minnesota Academy for the Deaf at 7 PM.  Groves Academy lost their fourth straight game and fell to an identical record of 2-6.  They will also be in action on the 10th, heading to Bloomington to face the Bethany Academy Eagles at 6:30 PM.