LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The Alcovy Tigers lost their third game of the season Tuesday night as they fell to the Discovery Titans by a score of 68-76.

During the start of the game, the Tigers just could not find the answer for Discovery’s perimeter shooters, who propelled the Titans to an early lead that would be tested more and more as the game went on. 

The Titans’ strong shooting and physical defense proved tough for the Tigers early and led head coach Mack Hardwick to make the necessary adjustments in an attempt to keep the game close and not allow Discovery to pull too far ahead going into the further periods of the game.

“[Discovery’s offense] started going real early inside from the three-point line and the arc,” Hardwick said. “They made some adjustments that really put us in a predicament.”

Fouling continued to doom Alcovy during the course of the first half, as Discovery used to opportunities to add on points at the line, increasing the Titans’ lead. The Tigers would eventually finish the game with 18 fouls, resulting in 13 points for the Titans.

With one of Alcovy’s best guards Oliver Gerard leaving the game after the first quarter, Qua Bennamon and Dylan Driver would step up for the Tigers in the second half, which would show a true test of the character that Hardwick believes separates this team from the rest.

Coming out of halftime down 23-34, the Tigers would not go down easy. Alcovy would score 18 in the third quarter and follow it up with a 29-point fourth quarter.

As the Alcovy offense began to catch fire, the Discovery offense would do just the opposite, with the Titans going on a cold streak that would allow the Tigers to come within five points late in the fourth quarter.

“Basketball is a game of runs, one big thing that our boys need to understand is that they will make runs,” Hardwick said. “[Discovery] started out shooting early, then they went into a shooting slump, there were adjustments that I really appreciated from some of my players.”

Despite the late resurgence by the Tigers’ offense, Discovery’s lead that they established throughout the first half of the game allowed them to pull away once again during the final two minutes and hold off the strong late-game offense surge from Alcovy.

The Tigers were led offensively by Bennamon, who finished the game with 20 points. Driver would put up a good game of his own, finishing with a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. 

“[Driver] is an x-factor, he has really been an anchor for the team,” Hardwick said. “Qua was the high-point man tonight. At 6-foot-7, he is really maturating into his position, and I am really proud of his growth.” 

Following the loss, Hardwick looks to continue to keep the team focused as they continue through their non-region road stretch that continues to test them with some of the best competition in the state.

Hardwick and the rest of the Tigers will play their next game Friday, Dec. 13, as they go on the road to face the South Gwinnett Comets.