Eagles Move to 3-0 with Win at Maranatha

WATERTOWN, Wisconsin—A big first half by sophomore Jayce Goergen and a hot-shooting Eagles' second half carried Faith to an eight-point victory over Maranatha Baptist University in its first road test of the season, 84-76.

Goergen scored 18 of his game-high 29 points in the first half, connecting on four of five three-point attempts. Faith jumped to a quick 7-0 lead and traded scoring runs back and forth with the Sabercats much of the first 20 minutes. Maranatha's first lead came with 5:19 remaining before halftime, but a Kalab Sidlinger three-pointer gave Faith a 40-37 lead at the break.

Maranatha was ice-cold in the second half, connecting on just 36.8% of its shots, and was 0-12 from three-point distance. Meanwhile, the Eagles used a balanced scoring attack to build their largest lead of the game (15) with 12:50 to play and never looked back, shooting a respectable 53.3% for the half.

Faith's offense was led by Goergen with a career-high 29 points, followed by Kalab Sidlinger with 20, Jared Pearson with 16, Noah Boyer with 15, and Jason Conable with four. Faith's bench did not score, but did get four rebounds from Christian Brown and two from Carson Odle. The Eagles shot 50.8% for the game and were 10 of 32 from three-point range (31.3%).

With the win, the Eagles improved to 3-0 and return home for a Saturday afternoon tilt with Oak Hills Christian College at 1 p.m. in Ankeny.