CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. --- Despite a lights out shooting performance and incredible performances from super seniors Cam Horton and Chris Barnes who combined for 39 points, the Life University men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season on the road at (RV) Thomas More in the team's conference opener Thursday night, 86-78.

Life U (3-1, 0-1 MSC) gave (RV) Thomas More (4-1, 1-0 MSC) all they wanted from the opening whistle to the final buzzer, controlling the lead through the opening six minutes behind a trio of deep balls from Horton and Jordan Hernandez. After Thomas More retook the lead, the Running Eagles never got back ahead of the Saints, but a Lorenzo Ferrell shot from deep assisted by Kyonze Chavis tied the game 30-30 with 5:13 to go in the first half. A Nathan Presnell steal turned into an emphatic dunk on the other side of the court to again even the score with 2:31 to go in the half. A late Thomas More surge saw Life U go into the break trailing 44-37.

Thomas More's late first half momentum continued into the second half, the lead swelling to a game-high 11 points before Life U got its offense flowing again. The Running Eagles made multiple pushed to get back into the game in the second half, a three-pointer by Chavis with 6:32 to go in the contest pulling it. to a. one point game at 67-66. Another three shot, this time from Kenny Pittman, Jr. again saw the game within one at 74-73, but Life U could not hold on losing 86-78.

Four Running Eagles broke into double-digit scoring on the night, led by stellar performances by Horton and Barnes. Horton compiled 20 points on a what was a sharp shooter performance, hitting on 4-for-6 shots from beyond the arc while also adding a rebound and assist. Barnes fell just a point behind at 19 and found many of his shots off a silky smooth mid-range jumper. Other high scores came from Presnell with 10 points and four rebounds, while Chavis got 10 points to go with his three boards and four assists.

Both teams shot excellently on the night, Thomas More holding a slight advantage overall, going 28-for-56 (50%) while Life U was 30-for-61 (49.2%), but the Running Eagles were more efficient from deep (10-for-22, 45.5%) compared to the Saints (10-for-27, 37%). The main difference in regards to shooting came from the charity stripe, Thomas More holding a sizable advantage in trips to the line while also being more efficient. Life U hit on 8-for-11 (72.7%) shooting on free throws, while Thomas More connected on 20-for-24 (83.3%) shooting. Another area that hurt the Running Eagles was rebounding, the team being outdone 36-21 in the statistic.

Life U stays on the road for its next conference game, facing sixth-ranked Shawnee State Saturday, November 20th at 4 PM.