MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University men's basketball team started the 2021-22 season with an 87-79 home win over Thomas University in the Ken Woods Memorial Classic Friday night. The team used a 50-point performance in the second half to secure the win.
Trailing 41-37 at the half, the Running Eagles were able to outscore the Knight Hawks 50-38 in the second half. They used an 11-2 run to start the second half to lead by 11, 59-47. Life U kept up the pace as they continued to hold the double digit lead, however Thomas cut the lead to four, 59-55, with 10:52 on the clock after an 8-1 run over four minutes. Life U answered with a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to extend the game to 69-57. The Running Eagles used a 68% shooting percentage in the second half to earn the win
As a team, Thomas finished 32-for-58 from the field (55.2%), 3-for-12 from three (25%) and 12-for-20 from the free-throw line (60%). The tallied 11 points from their bench with 40 points in the paint. They scored 10 second chance points and led by as many as nine four minutes before the half. The Knight Hawks added 28 rebounds with seven steals and 14 turnovers.
Life U shot 34% from the floor in the first half, but finished 30-for-63 (47.6%) in the entire game. The Running Eagles were 7-for-27 (25.9%) from behind the arc and 20-for-31 (64.5%) from the free-throw line. They rallied off 34 points in the paint with 35 bench points, and a staggering 23 second-chance points. The Running Eagles capitalized with 17 points off turnovers and totaled seven takeaways in the game. They led with 39 rebounds and 14 assists with five blocks.
Individually,
Nathan Presnell led the Running Eagles in the box score with 18 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a steal.
Chris Barnes finished with a team-high 22 points and was 7-for-10 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the free-throw line.
Kyonze Chavis added 12 points with a pair of assists as
Jordan Hernandez totaled 11 with six rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Cam Horton finished the game with nine points, eight assists, four steals and a block.
Dara Olonade added ten points with five rebounds.
The men's basketball team will return to action on Saturday, October 30, as they conclude play in the Ken Woods Memorial Classic against Southeastern Baptist College at 2 PM in the Eagles' Nest.
