MONTGOMERY, AL. – The Life University's men's basketball 2022-23 season came down to the final possession Thursday as the Running Eagles tied the contest at 81-all before the SSAC Player of the Year, CJ Hines, called the game with two ice-cold free throws with less than two seconds on the clock.
The clutch free throws practically expired the game clock as the Running Eagles fell in a heartbreaking 83-81 loss in the Southern States Quarterfinal matchup.
Life U (19-10, 11-9 SSAC) was led in scoring by the SSAC Freshman of the Year, Joshua Ward, as the two outstanding SSAC award achievers battled to a thrilling finish. Ward tabbed a new career high in the most important game of his career as the freshman scored 33 points and dished seven assists. Hines, the SSAC Player of the Year, rivaled Ward's career night scoring 27 points and tabbing seven assists as well.
The exhilarating quarterfinal matchup saw both teams shoot remarkably well with the Running Eagles finishing the night shooting over 50% from the court and hitting 6-of-17 from long range. The Eagles (25-4, 16-4 SSAC) matched that efficiency by hitting 45.8 percent of their looks from beyond the arc.
The freshman guard's career night was fueled by shooting over 50% from the field, also grabbing seven rebounds, seven assists, two steals, while tossing up just one turnover. The freshman sensation played all 40 minutes in the contest. Sophomore forward Dara Olonade also provided a solid performance, shooting 6-for-8 en route to an 80% conversion rate from the floor and a 15-point night.
Life U began the contest in a slump as the tournament-hosting Eagles from Faulkner University burst through the gates to an 11-3 lead. The Running Eagles then responded with a one-minute 8-0 run, one of their hottest streaks of the season, to level the score at eleven each.
After scoring eight points unanswered, the Running Eagles ultimately turned the momentum into a 24-16 lead at the 11:58 mark. The Eagles would not allow the lead to last for long as Faulkner responded with their own scoring run (13-5) that tied the game at 29 each. Over the next seven minutes, the Running Eagles closed the first half ablaze, scorching the net to carry a nine point lead to the break, 53-44.
With a decent lead and twenty minutes to play, the Running Eagles went cold to begin the second half as the once double-digit lead from the first half was gone, 63-63.
At first, the second half began eerily similar to the first half comeback attempt by Faulkner, but as the Eagles continued to hang around, the higher-seeded opponent eventually crawled back into the game to earn a 69-66 lead with less than ten minutes to play. The teams then traded baskets the next few possessions, both threatening to take charge and create separation, but as one conference player of the year converted an opportunity on one end, the other would answer in the next possession.
With a 77-75 lead heading into the final minutes, a CJ Hines jumper leveled the contest at 77-all. A Life U turnover and foul in the next two possessions then sent Hines back to the line, splitting the free throws to give Faulkner a 78-77 lead. As the clock dwindled to under a minute, the Conference Player of the Year converted a tough and-1 layup under the rim to push the Running Eagle deficit to four, 81-77. In the next possession, Ward responded with a drive through the teeth of the defense, converting his and-1 layup to narrow the gap back to a single point, 81-80.
The Running Eagles then instantly fouled to send a Faulkner player to the line for a one-and-one appearance at the charity stripe.
Faulkner missed the layup and with ten seconds remaining in the game, Life U called their final timeout to draw up one final play.
In the potential game-winning possession, the pick-and-roll alley pop was just narrowly stopped by the Eagles, but as Dara Olonade rose to hammer down the jam, he was denied, but not without a foul.
The sophomore's ensuing trip to the free throw line was split, tying the game one final time at 81 each. After the successful free throw attempt, Faulkner called a timeout.
After the timeout, Hines drove down the court and attempted a heavily-contested layup that again forced contact. As time was expiring, Hines secured a trip to the line where the SSAC Player of the Year converted two clutch free throws to ice the game 83-81.
The win for Faulkner pushes the Eagles into the semifinal round while the loss for Life U ends the Running Eagles tournament run. Unless the Running Eagles receive an at-large bid to the NAIA tournament, the final possession of the quarterfinal matchup concludes the 2022-23 campaign.
