Cold Second Half Dooms Eagle Men

The Eagle men hosted nationally ranked and region leading North Central University this past Tuesday night. The Eagles could not maintain their hot shooting into the second half and struggled to defend, as they fell 59-104. Faith is 1-9 on the year.

Faith jumped out quickly in the first half, leading 10-4 three minutes into the game.  Four turnovers in a row by the Eagles quickly let North Central right back in, though, as they put together a 9-0 run to lead 13-10. After their initial six point lead, the Eagles would turn the ball over a total of five times and went 1-7 from the floor during the next six minutes which allowed North Central to build a 26-15 lead with 11 to play in the first half. North Central maintained that lead over the next three minutes, before Faith woke back up offensively, stringing together four straight made baskets including three from behind the arc to pull within two at 33-31. However, the Eagles again failed to take care of the ball, turning it over three straight possessions which allowed North Central to push the lead back to nine, 42-33. North Central maintained that cushion into the break, leading 50-42 at halftime.

For the first five minutes of the second half, Faith stayed within striking distance, trailing 49-58 with just over 15 minutes to play. However, the game quickly got out of hand over the next four minutes, as Faith went 0-7 from the floor and turned it over twice, while failing to get ione stop on any of North Central next 10 possessions, with the result being a 21-0 run by North Central wich gave them a 30 point 79-49 lead with 10 minutes to play, effectively ending any chance the Eagles had. With the game essentially decided, both teams went to their bench for the rest of the game.

Tyler Betz led the Eagles with 22 points and four assists. Tim Jones added 10 points, while Dillon Gingerich grabbed seven rebounds and Eric Young also handed out four assists. Faith has a quick turn around, as they will travel to Grace University in Omaha, NE, tonight, then head to Minneapolis, MN, Saturday for a 5:30 pm game with Association Free Lutheran Bible Schoo.