Eisenhower’s Wyatt Lookenhouse puts in a layup during the third quarter of a game against Abraxas at Eisenhower High School, Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. Lookenhouse had 12 of his team-high 16 points in the frame and the Knights went on to defeat the Tornadoes, 69-49.

Eisenhower held off a third-quarter surge to lead wire-to-wire in a 69-49 win over visiting Abraxas Monday.

The Knights led by as much as 13 at points in the first half, but the Tornadoes cut the lead to three midway through the third quarter. Eisenhower responded by outscoring Abraxas, 15-4, in the final four minutes of the frame and cruised the rest of the way.

“Abraxas doesn’t run a set offense, which makes them hard to defend at times,” Eisenhower coach Wayne Lundmark said. “I’m happy with the guys though. They did a good job.”

Eisenhower (6-11) came out firing and opened the game with a 14-2 run. The Knights were up 19-8 with 7:18 to go in the half when Nieves knocked down the first of his four second-quarter 3-pointers. Nieves’ shot seemed to give the Tornadoes a confidence boost and they went on a 3-point shooting barrage through the remainder of the half. The Knights hit enough field goals to maintain a 33-27 advantage at the half.

“(Nieves) hit those four threes in the second quarter and some of them were from way downtown,” Lundmark said.

Nieves and Luke Smelko traded buckets early in the third quarter and Ford’s 3-point play cut the lead to 37-34 with just over four minutes to go in the third. Jared Martone started the Eisenhower run with a pair of free throws. Wyatt Lookenhouse scored 12 of the Knights next 13 points, including a pair of free throws with 24 seconds left in the third, to stretch the lead to 52-38 heading to the fourth quarter.

“He’s been practicing with the varsity for a while,” Lundmark said. “He’s just a natural.”

The run seemed to take the wind out of the Tornadoes, though Johnson did score 11 of his game-high 19 points in the final eight minutes.

Nieves finished with 14 in the loss.

Lookenhouse led the Knights with 16 points. Martone had 13, Williams 12 and Smelko 10.

Eisenhower hits the road today for a Region 3 showdown with Cochranton.

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Abraxas (49)

Almonte 1-0-0-3, Ford 3-1-1-7, Shaffer 2-0-2-4, Johnson 8-2-5-19, Smith 1-0-0-2, Nieves 5-0-0-14, Pijezo 0-0-0-0, Total 20-3-8-49

Eisenhower (69)

Williams 4-1-2-12, Darling 3-2-4-9, Venman 2-0-0-4, Alexander 2-1-3-5, Smelko 4-1-3-10, Martone 4-2-2-13, Lookenhouse 6-4-4-16, Eckstrom 0-0-2-0, Jenson 0-0-0-0, Cofer 0-0-0-0, Benson 0-0-0-0, Total 25-11-20-69

By Quarters

Abraxas 6 21 11 11 – 49

Eisenhower 17 16 19 17 – 69

3-point FGs: Abraxas (6)-Nieves 4, Johnson, Almonte. Eisenhower (7)-Williams 3, Martone 3, Smelko.