MARIETTA, Ga. ---- The Life University men's basketball team fell 78-61 at home against No. 7 nationally ranked Thomas More University Saturday afternoon in Mid-South Conference action.

Thomas More (20-2, 14-1) never trailed Life U (5-14, 2-12) in the game and controlled the tempo the entire 40 minutes. The Saints outscored the Running Eagles 40-23 in the first half, however both teams finished with 38 in the second half.

Thomas More finished 27-63 (42.9%) from the floor and were 10-27 (37%) from behind the arc. The Saints were 14-20 (70%) from the charity stripe and totaled 30 points in the paint with 36 bench points. They added 16 second chance points and 39 rebounds with 15 assists, three blocks and two steals on just nine team turnovers.

Life U finished better from the floor at 24-52 (46.2%) but were just 2-9 (22.2%) from three. The Running Eagles were 11-15 (73.3%) from the free-throw line and added 38 points in the paint. They added 33 rebounds as a team with five steals and six assists on 12 turnovers.

Chris Barnes led the way for the Running Eagles offensively with 19 points and three rebounds. Cam Horton finished just behind him with 15 points, three rebounds and three assists with a steal. Kyonze Chavis added 11 points with six rebounds and a steal as well. Jordan Hernandez tallied eight points with a team-high seven rebounds and three assists.

The men's basketball team will return to action on Monday, January 31, when they travel to Georgetown, Ky. to face No. 13 Georgetown College at 8 PM in road Mid-South Conference action.