Tough Conference Road Loss for the Eagles

West Point, GA - The Eagles could not keep their two-game win streak going as they faced the Point University Skyhawks on Tuesday evening. The Eagles were coming off two games where they seemed to be figuring each other out, but often with teams adding new pieces in the system - there will be steps forward and steps backward. Tonight was a step backward losing to the Skyhawks 78-61, however, there are still positives that the team can build upon and every game is another chance for this team to grow.

The game began with the Eagles coming out shooting hot with Nate Louis and Mekhi Mawdesley hitting a few three-pointers to put the Eagles out front, but it was early and Point would not let the lead get too far ahead of them. They quickly closed the gap by the fifteen-minute mark and the game was one. The game would stay within a couple of points of each other for most of the first half. In the final five minutes of the first half, the Skyhawks would start hitting their shots and the Eagles would go through a cold spell. This allowed Point to go up by as much as ten points in the final minute and the game would go to the halftime break with Point leading 40-30. 

Mawdesley and Anotonio Spencer would lead the way for the Eagles in the first half scoring 9 and 8 points respectively. Tafari Thomas would have 5 points and 5 rebounds in the first half as well.

In the second half, the Eagles would spend the first five minutes trying to tighten the score up and they were able to pull the lead to just two points on a three-pointer by Jamison Syphore and a jump shot and layup by Thomas and Louis. Moments later, the Eagles would actually tie the game and then take the lead on a layup by Jalin Wimberly and a three-pointer by Thomas putting the Eagles up 49-47 with just under ten minutes left in the game. 

The momentum seemed to be switching to the Eagles at this point in the game, but the Skyhawks would catch them and take the lead 58-56 with just over five minutes left in the second half. From this point on, the game shifted back in favor of Point as they would extend the lead to ten points with just two minutes remaining. Ten points is not a lot to overcome by this team that can score points in bunches, however, tonight it was not meant to be. The Eagles could not get a good shot in the final two minutes of play and the final lead moved to seventeen points.

There are a few glaring stats that probably determined the outcome of the game. The Eagles only shot 36% from the field going just 25 of 69. They shot slightly better from the three-point line at almost 43%. Tafari Thomas was the leading scorer with 13 points and also had 9 rebounds. Mekhi Mawdesley and Antonio Spencer had 12 points each and were big factors in the game - especially in the first half.

The team will have the week off for the Thanksgiving break and return to play Montreat at home on November 30th.  Hopefully, the team can rest and get their energy back to pick up several wins in December before going on the second break of the season over the Christmas Holidays. Also hopefully, the Eagles can get Tyler Smith back soon as he will help fill a void missing in the middle and he is always a strong presence with points and rebounds.