Eagle's Offense Explodes on Senior Night

The 2015 edition of senior night featured 8 ties, 8 lead changes and 180 combined points, but in the end, it was the Eagles who prevailed over visiting Association Free Lutheran Bible School (AFLBS), giving seniors Eric Young and Jon Rocha the 98-82 senior night victory. Faith moves to 14-4 overall, and extends their non-exhibition win streak to 9 games with the win. 

Faith came out hot, jumping out to a 22-9 lead six minutes into the game. AFLBS wasn't about to go away, as over the next several minutes, they took advantage of 4 Eagle turnovers and 3 missed shots to pull even at 25 apiece. The game then went back and forth, with Faith pushing the lead back to 6 with a minute and a half left in the first half, only to see ALFBS pull within one at 44-43 at the end of the first half. AFLBS was held to just 40% shooting from the floor, but rode hot shooting from behind the arc (7/12) to stay in the game. 

AFLBS opened the second half with an 8-2 run to lead by 5 with just over 15 minutes to play, but as has been the story during the Eagles second semester, the Eagles offense exploded over the final 15 minutes of the game. Fueled by Cody Chaffin's 16 points in 7 minutes, the Eagles put together a 35-12 run to blow the game open, leading 83-63. AFLBS had one run left in them, pulling as close as 11 before the Eagles ran the lead back up to 18 and went on for the 16 point win. 

After a 7/12 first half effort from behind the arc for AFLBS, the Eagles defense locked down, holding the visitors scoreless (0/12) from behind the arc in the second half. Faith forced 25 AFLBS turnovers on the night which they turned into 37 points. Faith recorded 21 steals, with 9 of the 10 men who saw action recording at least 1 steal. 

Aaron Leistikow had a solid all around game for the Eagles, scoring 23 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Cody Chaffin finished with 20 points and 4 steals. Jon Luke Talton added 15 points and Ryan Kupferschmid finished with 13. John Acree grabbed 7 rebounds as well for the Eagles. Eric Young and Jon Rocha both had solid senior night games, with Rocha leading the team in assists with 4, while Young scored 7 points, grabbed 3 steals, and handed out 3 assists. 

Faith will finish out their final two week of the regular season on the road, beginning next Tuesday at Crossroads College. That game will tip off at 7pm in Rochester, MN.