MARIETTA, Ga. --- Cam Horton went off scoring a season-high 26 points as the Life University men's basketball team held off a late Bethel (Tenn.) run to finish the season sweep of the Wildcats and get the team back on the right side of the scoreboard, winning 78-76 in the Eagles Nest Thursday afternoon.

Life U (6-15, 3-13 MSC) put one of their most efficient, and well rehearsed looking halves of basketball on display in the first half against Bethel (11-12, 3-12 MSC), the team shooting nearly 60% from the floor through the period and over 60% from deep. The Running Eagles came out guns blazing, putting 10 points on the scoreboard before Bethel scored its first. Jordan Hernandez was feeling it early, connecting on five balls from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes. Life U's largest lead of the half was 16 points, reaching it twice, first off a Dara Olonade put back layup and then as the final score of the half, Hernandez splashing in a deep ball to give a score of 45-29.

Coming out of the break, the efficiency that propelled the Running Eagles to a large halftime lead stopped, while Bethel started finding their shot, the Wildcats scoring the first seven points of the second half. A burst of seven-straight points by Horton over a one minute span pushed Life U back to a 14-point lead at 52-38.  With 7:45 to play, Bethel pulled to within a single score, taking the lead for the first time shortly after and pushing their lead to as much as six, but the Running Eagles would not accept defeat, Horton hitting a jump shot from deep, while Chris Barnes followed him up with a mid-range jumper to take a one point edge. With 15 seconds to play, Hernandez hit one of his shots on a trip to the charity stripe, giving the final score fo 78-76. After a Life U foul the Wildcats missed both their free throws, but with little time remaining they collected the offensive rebound and narrowly missed on what would have been a game winner, seeing Life U take the 78-76 home, conference victory.

The Running Eagles held the edge in all shooting categories Thursday afternoon, posting a very solid 50% overall compared to Bethel's 44.6%, while leading three points at 45.5% to 40% and free throws 71.4% to 55.6%. Life U was narrowly out rebounded by the Wildcats, 37-36, but took a small advantage in points in the paint 38-36. Life U's main advantage came via points off turnover 25-14 and fast break opportunities 12-0.

The Running Eagles stay home for their next contest, facing Freed-Hardeman Saturday at 4 PM. During halftime of the game, the second Life U Hall of Fame class inductees will be honored.