NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life U 86, BMCU 68
Records: Life U 13-5 (6-2 SSAC); BMCU 3-13 (0-8 SSAC)
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University men's basketball team blew past the Toppers of Blue Mountain on Thursday night in SSAC play. The Running Eagles offense was clicking as four different players scored in the double-digits.
Life U opened the contest by jumping out to a seven-point lead before the Toppers could even get on the board. Though Blue Mountain slowly found its offense, the Running Eagles showed no sign of slowing down, taking a 19-10 lead into the middle minutes of the first half.
With Josh Baugher leading the way on the boards and in the assists category, a Brashon Hall layup moved the lead to double-digits at 07:33. The home offense hammered away at the Toppers defense for the remainder of the half, with the largest lead of the first coming at the 01:43 mark after back-to-back buckets from Calvin Payton. Life U carried a 43-24 into the half time break, with Payton leading the scoring with 13 points while Baugher racked up eight boards and seven assist.
The second half featured more of the same as the home offense once again put up 43 points. The Running Eagles started the second frame hot once again, scoring the six points before the Toppers finally got a bucket to fall over two minutes into the half.
As Life U continued to knock down shots, the lead nearly reached 30 following a Davenport Cox three at the 11:21 mark. However, free throwers from Sergio Corta minutes later did give the Running Eagles a 30-point lead, 70-40. The remaining minutes became a formality as Life U closed out the contest with a dominant 86-68 lead.
TURNING POINT:
--Life U shot 54.5% from the floor in the first half, carrying a 43-24 into half time.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
--Life U shot 52.5% for the contest.
--The Running Eagles dominated the boards, 45-21.
--The ball was spread around well, with the team recording 22 assists.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
--Matija Gledic: 14 points, 7 rebounds
--Calvin Payton: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
--Maurice Wright: 14, 5 rebounds, 8 assists
--Josh Baugher: 5 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals
UP NEXT:
--The Running Eagles remain at home, taking on UT Southern on Saturday, Jan. 17.
