Short-handed Faulkner outlasts Oakwood 76-74
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (faulknereagles.com) – Faulkner (2-0) fell behind by as many as 11 points to Oakwood University (1-1) in the second half of tonight’s battle in the Jimmy Faulkner Classic, but the Eagles came charging back despite a short bench to secure the 76-74 win here at Tine Davis Gymnasium.
Faulkner went into halftime ahead 37-35, but Oakwood got a lead two minutes into the second half and ran with it.
The Eagles trailed for the next 16 minutes, but junior guard Lucas Luttrell put back an offensive rebound with 2:32 left in the game and Faulkner never trailed again.
Freshman guard Rene Scott sank a pair of free throws with 45 seconds left on the clock to give Faulkner a four point lead.
Oakwood’s Simeon Middleton then gained possession on a turnover and knocked down a jumper to trim that lead to two points. The visitors got one final crack at the rim before time expired, but came up short.
Middleton led all scorers with 25 points, while the Eagles were paced by senior guard Marquis Grays who had 16.
Faulkner had four other players with double-digit point totals including Scott with 15, Luttrell with 14, junior forward Logan Jozwiak with 13, and Jimenez with 11. Jimenez was also the Eagles leading rebounder with nine.
“We’re proud of our guys,” head coach Scott Sanderson said after the game. “We were down eight or 10 late in the second half and we got six key stops there towards the end, and converted them all into baskets – and we had to have every one of them. I’m just really proud of these guys to be able to get a win over such a quality opponent with three starters out of action. Lucas grabbed some really important rebounds down the stretch, and Marquis came up huge as well.”
Faulkner was still without expected starters Di’mar Hill and Christian Kennedy who missed the game with injuries.
The Eagles return to action Thursday when they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in an exhibition game. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
