Men's Basketball: RU's Hill named GLVC Player of the Week
Rockhurst’s Aaron Hill has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. The junior guard scored 52 points in two games and was named the Most Valuable Player in the Hillyard Tip-Off Classic in St. Joseph, Mo., over the weekend.
Hill led the Hawks with 29 points in a 85-66 loss against 16th-ranked Northwest Missouri State on Friday. Hill was 9-for-17 (.529) from the field and canned eight three-point field goals in the loss. He also added six assists and four rebounds.
The Hawks, behind Hill’s efforts, bounced back to take a 73-72 win over host Missouri Western on Saturday. Hill scored 23 points against the Griffons and hit the game-winning free throw with two seconds to play. He finished 9-for-16 (.563) from the field and added three rebounds and three assists.
Hill averaged 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists for the tournament. He was 18-for-33 (.545) from the field, 11-for-22 (.500) from the three-point line and 5-for-7 (.714) from the free throw line.
In the win over Missouri Western, the Hawks went on a 12-0 run to rally from a 10-point deficit to take a 61-59 lead at the 4:53 mark on a dunk by senior forward Alden Smith. Hill gave Rockhurst a 69-66 lead with a jumper at the 1:46 mark.
A three-pointer by junior guard Tyler Knust, who threw up a desperation scoop shot from the left corner with the shot clock running out, gave the Hawks a 72-68 lead with 34 seconds left.
Missouri Western tied the score with 10 seconds left on a three-pointer after a steal. Hill was fouled driving into the lane with two seconds left. He made the first free throw, but missed the second. The Griffons got the rebound and missed a 45-foot shot after the buzzer.
Knust finished with 14 points. Smith scored nine points and senior center Brent Thome added eight points. Senior forward Drew Martin led RU with seven rebounds.
Rockhurst, 1-1, plays Central Missouri at the Sprint Center on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Admission is free and tickets will be available at the Sprint Center Box Office on Tuesday.
The Hawks play their home opener Friday against 12th-ranked Southwest Baptist at 4 p.m. on the first day of the Rock U Harvesters Classic. Rockhurst will play Missouri Western on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the final game in the Rock U Harvesters Classic.
Box Score: Rockhurst 73, Missouri Western 72
Box Score: Northwest Missouri State 85, Rockhurst 66
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