Eagles Defeat AFLBS in Exciting Overtime Thriller

Three days after struggling to find an offensiver rhythm, the Eagle men seemed to take a step in the right direction as they defeated Association Free Lutheran Bible School (AFLBS) 96-88 in overtimeFriday night. The win puts Faith at 9-8 overall.

Faith once again started slowly, as the proverbial lid continued to be on the basket. The Eagles were able to score just six points during the first five minutes of the first half, while AFLBS took advantage of Faith's offensive struggles, quickly building a 15-6 lead. Faith couldn't muster much of a change in that lead for the next thirteen minutes, as AFLBS led by 10 with two and a half minutes to play in the half. Finally, though, Faith began to find a little consistency as they closed the half with a 12-4 run to pull within two, 42-44, going into the break. Faith shot just 39% during the half but limited themselves to just 5 turnovers which likely kept them in the game.

The second half was tight, with Faith finally able to take a two point, 70-68 lead with just under 10 minutes to go. AFLBS resopnded with a 6-2 run to lead 74-72, but Jon Luke Talton woke the Eagles and the capacity crowd up with a steal and thunderous dunk. Talton was fouled on the dunk and made the free throw to give the Eagles the lead back. Again AFLBS responded, this time taking a four point lead with three minutes remaing. Talton began to take over the game, scoring on the Eagles next possession then finding John Acree on the pick and roll after an Eagle's stop to tie the game back up at 74 a piece. AFLBS was able to score, but Talton found Aaron Leistikow on the Eagles next possession. Leistikow finished the shot and was fouled, sinking the free throw to give Faith the one point lead.

The Eagles knew they needed a defensive stop and locked down, forcing a nearly impossible fade away three point shot by AFLBS's Travis Haugen as the shot clock went off. Somehow Haugen was able to hit the shot and the Eagles found themselves down two with a minute to play. A steal by AFLBS looked to give them a four point lead, but they were unable to convert on the break away and Faith had life. This time it was Willie Felderman answering the call as he drove the lane and calmy finished over top of his defender to tie the game up with 35 seconds to play. Again the Eagle's defense locked down, with the result being another Haugen desperation three as the shot clock expired. This time Haugen came up short and the Eagles earned the ball back with just under five seconds to play. Faith drew up a play which worked perfectly, getting Talton the ball at half court with teammate Cody Chaffin standing under the hoop unguarded. Unfortunately the desperate AFLBS defender was just able to get his hands on the ball and prevent Talton from converting the pass to Chaffin and time expired with the teams knotted at 84.

AFLBS opened the overtime period with a basket, but the Eagles defense that had become so rugged in the final minutes of regulation continued, as they held AFLBS to just 1/12 from the floor over the five minute period. Faith outscored AFLBS 12-4 to earn the overtime win.

Four Eagles finished in double digits. Jon Luke Talton finished with 33 points and came within one rebound and two assists of a triple double. Aaron Leistikow added 22 points and 13 rebounds to finish with a double double. John Acree finished with 19 points including 9/11 from the free throw line. Cody Chaffin rounded out those in double figures with 12.