PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – No. 25 Life University (16-6, 4-2 MSC) handled Shawnee State (10-11, 1-5 MSC) 73-57 on Thursday.
"I am really proud of our guys and the way we competed tonight," Head Coach
Keith Adkins said. "We were a little undermanned going into this one and guys had to play a few more minutes than usual. Before the game, we talked about finding a way to win on the road and we did that. Now we have to get our legs back under us, get some rest and see if we can compete like that again on Saturday at Pikeville."
Four Running Eagles finished in double digit figures on the night. Senior
Jay Johnson paced the squad with a double double of a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds as well as three blocks. Senior
Zach Landis also posted a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds in addition to three assists and two steals. Senior
Undra Mitchem put up 13 points with six rebounds, three assists and a steal. Junior
David Scott contributed 12 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals.
The first was a back and forth period that featured eight lead changes and four ties. Neither team was able to gain more than a two-possession lead during the half. The opening five minutes were tightly contested. SSU came out with a 10-8 lead and proceeded to run out to their largest lead of the game at 19-13, but Life U quickly answered to retake the lead 20-19. The Running Eagles closed out the half with a 37-32 lead.
Life U carried the momentum they had at the end of the first half into the second as they quickly went up 10 points at 43-33, just a minute and a half into the final period. However, the Bears would not go quietly as they battled and fought to retake the lead briefly at 52-49. The Running Eagles again answered as they went on a 12-2 run to take a 61
-54 lead with just under five minutes remaining. They took over the game from that point and finished with a 73-57 victory.
Life U will wrap up the four-game road trip on Saturday, Jan. 27 as they travel to Pikeville, Ky. to face off against No. 12 Pikeville.
