Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) men's basketball team closed play in 2016 Gulf South Conference/Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Challenge hosted by Union University with an 84-60 non-conference loss to the Hawks of Shorter University on Saturday afternoon in Fred DeLay Gymnasium.
 
In the opening four minutes of play, SHC fought to a slim 7-6 lead over the Hawks (2-0) as both defenses clamped down with tight, quick-handed coverage. Spring Hill's motion offense would find its rhythm first as the Badgers muscled out to a 20-11 advantage with 8:36 left in the first period.
 
Shorter answered right back late in the half and pulled to within 28-27 with two minutes on the clock and two Phil Taylor free throws would put the Hawks on top 29-28 at 1:56. Jack Morrissey of SHC responded with a 3-point bucket and a successful free throw on the other end as the Badgers rebuilt a brief 32-29 lead, but two Badger turnovers resulted in four points and a 33-32 lead for Shorter at the intermission.
 
The Hawks came out hot to open the second half and built out a 53-42 cushion at the 10:28 mark and a 77-55 bulge with three minutes left in the game.
 
Spring Hill was led by sophomore forward Brandon Fischer with 15 points while freshman guard Shawn Moore put 12 points in the rims and junior Walter Massey added 10 points and nine rebounds. SHC won the rebounding war 37-34, but lost 22 turnovers to nine steals by the Hawks. Shorter lost just eight turnovers to three steals by the Badgers.
 
As a team, Spring Hill shot 43.6% (24-55) from the field including 29.4% (5-17) from 3-point land with a 63.6% (7-11) effort from the charity stripe. Shorter hit 44.3% (31-70) of their shots overall with an impressive 43.3% (13-30) showing from beyond the arc. The Hawks also sank 90% (9-10) of their free throws. Taylor led all scorers with 35 points.
 
The Badgers (0-2) will return home on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. to host their cross-town rivals the University of Mobile Rams (2-1) in a non-conference game at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.