Or just drifting aimlessly in outer space.
Allegany (18-1), the No. 12-ranked junior college, was out of this world in the second half, using three Ps to put away HCC. A combination of precision, patience and straight physical size sent the Hawks spinning into an unhappy landing. Center Terrell Taylor scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in the second half to muscle the Trojans into a secure lead while Allegany's team style of play took care of the rest.
"We played great in the second half," Allegany coach Bob Kirk said. "I thought we picked up our defense in the second half and did a great job rebounding and our balanced came through."
HCC (16-4), which has lost two straight, trailed 49-42 at the half but closed to within 51-45 in the opening minutes of the second half. After that, Hagerstown, they had a problem.
Allegany rolled off a 15-0 run starting off at the 17-minute mark to take a 66-45 lead after Terrell Ross scored on a long rebound with 13:57 remaining.
The rally grew as the Trojans scored 10 of the next 12 and 26 of the game's next 35 points to make the decision a forgone conclusion. HCC abandoned its offense for more individual play, helping the unraveling to continue on the heels of Saturday's overtime loss to Garrett.
"Allegany is a disciplined offense and they stayed with it," Brown said. "We had players who wanted to win, but didn't stay in the offense. They wanted to do it all by themselves."
HCC made the game competitive in the first half, scoring the first basket of the game for its only lead. The Hawks were within 26-24 when Brandon DeShields hit for three of his 15 points and within 28-26 with 6:56 to go in the half on two Julius Gause free throws for two of his 25 points.
Allegany used an 11-2 run led by six points from Malik Wallace to take control. The Trojans finished with five players in double figures with Terrell Ross finishing with 15 while Wallace and Daryl Towe finished with 13 each.
"(Kirk) has a better balanced ball club size-wise than we do," Brown said. "We have to play one of our better games and catch them on a mediocre day to beat them."
Allegany 105, HCC 67
ALLEGANY COLLEGE (18-1)
Riddick 4 0-1 9, Wallace 5 1-2 13, Smith 4 0-0 8, Green 2 1-2 6, Ross 5 4-4 15, Johnson 3 0-0 6, Towe 4 4-4 13, Randle 4 1-2 10, Taylor 10 5-6 25, Godwin 0 0-2 0. Totals 41 16-23 105.
HCC (16-4)
Tabron 2 2-2 7, Branham 1 2-4 4, Handy 3 3-3 10, DeShields 5 3-8 15, Waller 0 0-0 0, Gause 5 2-2 15, Jennings 0 6-6 6, Goodman 0 1-2 1, Gaddy 5 0-0 10, Hoffman 0 0-1 0. Totals 21 19-28 67.
Halftime - Allegany 49, HCC 42. Three-point goals - Allegany 7 (Wallace 2, Riddick, Green, Ross, Towe, Randle), HCC 7 (Gause 3, DeShields 2, Handy, Tabron). Fouled out - none. Technical fouls - Smith.
The distance between Allegany College and Hagerstown Community College is about 60 miles by bus.
