Eagles Upset in Regional Tournament

This past weekend, the Eagles traveled to Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, WI, the host site of the NCCAA North Regional Tournament. Faith was seeded as the #2 team in the region and was set to go up against #3 Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL) in the semi-final game Friday afternoon. The Eagles controlled the lead early, but second half struggles allowed Moody to get out in front and take an 83-68 victory over Faith, ending the Eagles' chance of making it to the championship.

Faith started the game hot, jumping out to a 15-7 lead over Moody, but turnovers committed by the Eagles on four consecutive possessions brought Moody back to within two. Moody took their first lead of the game with just under 8 minutes to go in the half. The momentum shifted the Eagles' way when Ryan Kupferschmid was fouled on a three-point shot, as this was the beginning of a 15-2 run for the Eagles to put them ahead 34-21. Moody had an answer though, closing out the half on a 12-2 run and cutting Faith's advantage to 36-33. The Eagles relied heavily on Ryan Kupferschmid and Jon Luke Talton's three-point shooting through the first twenty minutes. Kupferschmid and Talton combined to shoot 7-13 from behind the arc.

The Eagles held off Moody at the start of the second half, but at the 16 minute mark, the Archers gained control of the lead and never looked back. Faith's hot three-point shooting from the first half continued for Jon Luke Talton but, unfortunately, did not for Ryan Kupferschmid. Talton shot 5-9 for the second half, but Kupferschmid struggled shooting 0-7. The Eagles made a final run at Moody, cutting the deficit to 65-69 with just under 5 minutes to go; however, the Archers quickly put a stop to it with their 14-0 run, eleven of those points coming from the free throw line. The big story of the second half was free throws, proving to be the difference in the game. In the half, Moody shot 19-20 from the free throw line, while Faith shot 0-4. The Archers defeated Faith by a final score of 83-68, advancing to the championship and ending the tournament for the Eagles.

Jon Luke Talton had a big game with 38 points, including 25 points in the second half. Ryan Kupferschmid added 15 points to the game; however, Moody's size gave them the rebounding advantage, as they outrebounded Faith 39-28.

Faith will play their final games this week at the ACCA National Tournament in Joplin, MO.