Stallions Fall in a Nail-Biter Against Paul Quinn, 74-71

Written by Rev. Justin C. Jackson

The North American University Stallions fought valiantly but came up just short against Paul Quinn College in a thrilling conference matchup on November 16, 2024. Despite a stellar performance from Sean Fry, who continues to torch the conference with his consistent play, Norris Williams of Paul Quinn stole the show with an incredible 36-point effort, leading his team to a narrow 74-71 victory.

Game Recap

The Stallions (3-4, 0-3 conference) started strong, keeping pace with the Tigers (3-3, 3-0 conference) in a tightly contested first half. The opening 20 minutes ended with Paul Quinn clinging to a slim 39-36 lead.

In the second half, both teams showcased their grit, trading baskets and defensive stops. Sean Fry led the Stallions with 12 points, adding two assists and four steals in just 22 minutes. His relentless energy sparked multiple rallies, but it was not enough to offset Paul Quinn's sharpshooting from beyond the arc, where they hit an impressive 47.8% (11-of-23).

Norris Williams was unstoppable, shooting a blistering 72.2% (13-of-18) from the field and an eye-popping 7-of-9 from deep. His ability to break down the defense and find open shots proved to be the difference in the game.

Key Performances

For the Stallions:

• Damione Thomas: A force in the paint, Thomas tallied 11 points and eight rebounds, providing a strong inside presence.
• Joseph Cormier: Recorded a near double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, including four steals. His hustle on both ends kept the Stallions within striking distance.
• Erric Wynn: Energized the team off the bench, contributing nine points and two rebounds.

For the Tigers:

• Norris Williams: The undisputed player of the game with 36 points, seven assists, and five steals. His clutch three-point shooting kept the Stallions at bay.
• Derrick Miller: Added 13 points, including three crucial three-pointers, complementing Williams' offensive output.

Team Stats

The Stallions shot a respectable 45.6% from the field but struggled from long range, converting only 31.3% of their three-point attempts (5-of-16). Paul Quinn's 11 made three-pointers ultimately swung the game in their favor.

Rebounding was a bright spot for North American, as they edged Paul Quinn 36-31 on the boards, led by Cormier's nine and Thomas' eight. However, turnovers plagued the Stallions, as their 20 miscues compared to Paul Quinn's 21 proved costly in crucial moments.

Coach's View

"This one stings," said Stallions Head Coach B. Doze. "We played hard and had opportunities, but you've got to give credit to Paul Quinn for making big shots when it mattered. We'll learn from this and keep pushing forward."

Up Next

The Stallions will look to bounce back in their next matchup as they return to "The Stable" to take on another conference opponent. Fans, let's pack the gym and show our Stallions the support they deserve!

Get those 4-fingered hooves up and GO STALLIONS!