Eagles Drop Season Opener at Union College

LINCOLN, Nebraska—Missing one of their best players, Chris Barnette, who is out for at least two weeks with an injury, the Faith Eagles men's basketball team lost their season opener at Union College, 75-69.

The Warriors of Union shot a red-hot 54.7% from the floor for the game and connected on 8-of-23 three point tries in a contest that saw seven ties and seven lead changes. Union's largest lead was six points with 5:04 left in the first half.

Carson Odle scored the first points of the 2022-23 season for the Eagles, giving Faith a 2-0 lead to start the game. Following a Union three-point basket, the Eagles went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-3 lead. Faith went ice cold during a six-minute stretch in the first half as they watched a 20-14 lead evaporate into a 24-30 deficit. Jared Pearson rallied the Eagles at the end of the first half with a pair of buckets and Faith trailed by just one at halftime.

Faith regained the lead early in the second half and built its cushion to six with a Carson Odle three-pointer to put the Eagles up 49-43 with 15:01 remaining. Faith pushed the lead to as many as seven with four and a half minutes to go following an Andy Hecker jumper, and it looked like the Eagles were in command. The next two minutes were the backbreaker as Union went on a 9-0 run to take the lead which they would not relinquish.

The Eagles had a balanced scoring attack in the effort, led by Jayce Goergen and freshman Logan Fincham with 14 apiece. Jared Pearson added 13, and Carson Odle added 12 to give Faith four players in double digits. Scoring was rounded out by James Busenitz (6), Andy Hecker (6), and Simon Allen (3). Odle led the team in rebounding with 10. Faith struggled as a team to shoot the ball, connecting on 37.1% of its shots (7-of-28 from three point distance).

Faith's next games are next Friday and Saturday (November 18 and 19) with the annual Faith Classic Tournament. The Eagles face regional foe Trinity Bible College at 7 p.m. on Friday, and finish with North Central University at 6 p.m. on Saturday.