The University of Guam Men's Basketball Team lost 87-85 in a close game against the MacTech Nerds in the Triton Men's Basketball League on Jan. 29 at the UOG Calvo Field House.

Both teams struggled to score early in the game, with MacTech leading 20-18 after the first quarter. UOG was able to take its first lead of the game at 25-24, but the Nerds were able to retake the lead and push their advantage to six points at halftime with a score of 43-37.

The scoring picked up in the third quarter, as the Nerds dropped 28 points on the Tritons while UOG answered back with 25 points as the Nerds led 71-62 after the third period ended.

But Logan Hopkins for UOG scored 15 points in the final 10 minutes to lead a Triton comeback as UOG cut the Nerds lead to two points several times in the quarter but could never get over the top to take the lead back. The officials called a foul on UOG's Aljurrell Grape in the middle of the final period followed by a technical foul for arguing the call, which fouled him out of the game with 19 points for UOG at that point.

The Tritons had the ball for a final shot with 10 seconds left and down by two points. AJ Carlos drove the lane and put a shot up that hit the rim but bounced away from the basket as Carlos was knocked to the floor with no call made, and the Tritons lost the game 87-85.

Hopkins led UOG again with 32 points while Grape added 19 points. Aaron Castro had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Andrew Carlos had 10 points.

UOG is now 1-1 on the season, and MacTech improved to 1-1 as well.

In the first game, the Harper Valley Kennel Bulldogs beat Guam Community College 119-104 to take the lead in the league with a 2-0 record.

GCC played a good game against the high-powered Bulldogs, as GCC led most of the first quarter and trailed by only three points at halftime at 58-55. The Bulldogs took control in the third period, outscoring GCC 29-18 and went on to win the game 119-104.

Ethan Alegre led all scorers with 43 points for GCC while Christian Torres led the Bulldogs with 36 points.

UOG plays the Harper Valley Kennel Bulldogs next at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2. GCC faces MacTech at 4 p.m. Both games will be at the UOG Calvo Field House, and admission is free.

View the full Men's Basketball Schedule here.

 

Stock photos by Victor Consaga, UOG Sports Photographer