By Joe Kvartunas
Paul VI Student

Gonzaga beat Paul VI in a thrilling come from behind victory Tuesday night, 49-44.

Led by junior guard Cedrick Lindsay, who scored 15 points, the Eagles were able to come back from eight points down late in the third quarter.

“This was a tough competitive battle,” Gonzaga Coach Steve Turner said. “This is how it’s going to be for the rest of the season.”

The victory boosts the first place Eagles to 22-3 overall and 13-2 in the competitive WCAC. And perhaps more importantly, it comes on the heels of a second loss to O’Connell this season, which broke up a 13-game win streak.

It was defensively-controlled game with Paul VI staying in control most of the way. The closest point in the game before the comeback by Gonzaga was the end of the first quarter when the game was tied 13-13.

It was back in forth for most of the second quarter with Paul VI taking control half way through the quarter. Gonzaga was able to stay in the game, though by being physical in the post and getting the Panthers’ Raven Barber into foul trouble early.

“That was huge to us.” Paul VI Coach Glen Farello said. “Raven is a big part of this team and a great rebounder and they were able to get him to foul out early.”

Barber would foul out midway through the third quarter with only 4 points.  

Another major aspect of the game was the inability of PVI’s usually rowdy student section, the sixth man, to become a factor in the game. They were uncharacteristically out represented and out cheered by the Gonzaga fans that traveled to Fairfax for the game.

In the second half, the Panthers came out firing and were able to push the their lead up to eight points with two and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Then, just when it seemed like Paul VI, was going to close it out and pull off the upset, Gonzaga went on a run at the end of the quarter and was able to cut the lead in half by the end of the quarter.  

Gonzaga took control in the fourth, tying the score at 40 three minutes into the quarter. Overall the Eagles outscored the Panthers 17-8 in the fourth quarter.

Ian Hummer chipped in 10 points for the Eagles while Erick Green led Paul VI with 14 points.

“We’ve got a group of guys who have been here and done this before,” Turner said, specifically referring to the Eagles’ comeback against Good Counsel earlier this year.

“Our guys just battled,” he continued. “And when you’re playing the best teams in the country night in and night out you learn to be that way. We told our guys to not worry about the score and take it one possession at a time, and we were able to get back in it.”