HCC learns lesson, gains JUCO win

February 09, 2000

BY BILL STERNER / Staff Correspondent

Jim Brown was confident he had taught the lesson well. Brown, who plies his trade as HCC's men's basketball coach, is, after all, a teacher at heart.

So when his Hawks entered the locker room at halftime during their game with Essex angry and a bit disorganized, Brown remained patient and allowed them to work out their own problems.

Did they ever.

HCC, behind Brian Williams' 26 points, shook off a lackadaisical first half and put down one of its top Maryland JuCo challengers 97-80 Wednesday at the HCC athletic complex. Delvin Anderson added 20 points to an HCC offense that literally exploded in the second half, scoring 60 points to turn an apparently close game into nothing more than a tune-up one week before the conference tournament.

In fact, it was an 18-2 run early in the second half that put Essex away.

"We were very disorganized at the end of the first half," Brown said. "At this point, I feel it is best to let them figure out the problem. They expect to play well and when they don't, we have some upset people."

The Hawks didn't appear upset, as after trailing 41-37 to begin the second half, they effortlessly built a six-point lead minutes after taking the floor. A Derek Hoffman tip-in at the 10 minute mark stretched the HCC lead to 65-55 and Essex would never seriously threaten again. Williams yanked down 16 rebounds while Janson Greene dished out 10 assists.

"We got the help we needed tonight, our players stepped up," Brown said of the Hawks, who logged six players in double figures.

"We needed to pick up the tempo in the second half," Brown said. "We sort of let them control what we did in the first half. We got our heads in the game and then we were able to play well. This team knows what it has to do to win."

Abdul Williams led Essex with 28 points while Sabian Toussaint added 19.

HCC 97, Essex 80

ESSEX (80)

Mercer 4, Williams 28, Brewer 2, Farmer 11, Aladetohum 3, Wiggins 12, Toussaint 19. Totals 30 14-25 80.

HCC (97)

Williams 26, Hoffman 4, Tabron 11, Anderson 20, Robertson 10, Greene 9, Dukes 5, Covington 12. Totals 35 22-29 97.

Halftime - Essex 41-37. Three-point goals - HCC 4 (Tabron 3, Greene), Essex 6 (Williams 4, Farmer, Aladetohum).

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