MARIETTA, Ga. – Life University (4-2) closed out the annual Running Eagle Classic with a 70-60 win over Talladega on Saturday.
"This was a very good win for us," Head Coach
Keith Adkins said. "I think we learned a lot from our game last night. We are still going through some growing pains as a team. But, we are learning, a little at a time, how to be a team. Now we have to enjoy this, but quickly put it behind us, because on Tuesday we have a very good Dalton State team comes in here."
Once again senior
Ivan Benkovic paced the squad with 17 points, as well as two steals, a rebound and an assist. Junior
Deven Dorsett posted 16 points, with three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Senior
Zach Landis logged 11 points, three rebounds, three steals and an assist. Senior
Undra Mitchem contributed 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
While it was an incredibly close game, Life U never trailed. The first half was the tightest of the two periods and featured six ties. After a back and forth opening couple of minutes, the Running Eagles gained their first sizeable lead of the night at 10-4. However, the Tornadoes would battle back and tie it at 10-10 at 12:54. Life U pushed out again to 17-10, but had their lead erased again as Talladega tied it up with 7:31 left in the half. This pattern would repeat itself two more times in the half before the Running Eagles took a 30-27 lead into the half.
The second half began the same way the first ended, with Life U running out to an eight-point lead, only to have it disappear in a tie. The Running Eagles took the lead to stay at 41-38. They would continue to run out to seven and eight-point leads, only to have the Tornadoes trim them to single possession leads. Towards the end of the game, however, Life U began to break away. They took their first double-digit lead of the night at 66-56 with 1:02 left. They eventually took a 70-60 victory.
The Running Eagles are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 21 as they welcome Dalton State to the Eagles' Nest for a pre-Thanksgiving matchup.
