COLLEGE PARK, Ga. – The College Park Skyhawks (10-13) defeated the Windy City Bulls (11-15), 116-112 at the Gateway Center Arena on Saturday.
The Skyhawks got off to an early lead in the first quarter behind six made three’s. A.J. Lawson, coming off a 7-12 3FG shooting night on Thursday, had 15 points in the first half including three made three’s of his own. The rookie forward from Toronto, Canada finished the game with 19 points (7-12 FG, 3-6 3FG) and seven rebounds.
Along with Lawson, Marcus Georges-Hunt (11), Jalen Johnson (13), and Cat Barber (10) finished the first half in double-digit scoring. The Skyhawks took a 61-55 lead into the break.
The Skyhawks held the lead through the third quarter, with Cooper scoring 10 points and dishing four assists in the quarter. The two-way guard finished the game with 17 points, seven assists and seven rebounds in 29 minutes.
Jalen Johnson, assigned from the Hawks to the Skyhawks on Friday, finished with his 10th double-double of the season. The rookie forward scored 28 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, both game highs, in his first game with College Park since Feb. 9.
The Skyhawks were able to hold on through the end of the game with 19 fourth-quarter points from Barber and Johnson. Barber finished with 23 points and five assists on the night.
The Bulls were led by two-way big man Marko Simonovic, who scored 23 points and pulled down nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
“We talked about putting together our best 48 minutes, and we did enough to win the game,” said Skyhawks Head Coach Steve Gansey. “I’m happy with the win – that makes three out of four – and we have to continue to get these wins.”
The Skyhawks will stay home to take on the Wisconsin Herd in a two-game set at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park. The first game will take place on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, with the conclusion coming on Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Both games can be found live on Peachtree TV.