Smith and Reed Help Eagles Start 2024 with AAC Home Win

Waleska, GA - The Eagles come off the Christmas/New Year's break showing no signs of a holiday lull. The team quickly jumped on top of the visiting Knights from St. Andrews and never looked back winning big, 104-72.

Reinhardt was led by the trio of Tyler Smith, Nate Jones, and Derrian Reed.  Smith was a monster inside and beyond the three-point mark scoring 28 points on 10 of 14 shooting/4-4 from three-point land.  Jones, who has led the Eagles most of the first half of the season, ended up with 17 points scoring both inside and outside as well.  Reed did most of his damage from three-pointers shooting 5 of 6 from behind the arch. He also had 7 rebounds and dished out 6 assists.

The Eagles also got solid games from Brasen James, Fred Adams, Nekhi Fisher, and Nate Louis.  James and Louis both scored 8 points and Fisher put in 9 points including two second-half slam dunks that sealed the deal for the Knights.  Adams led the floor game for the Eagles dealing out 8 assists and scoring 4 points.  As the season progresses, Adams is showing that is a very capable floor leader for the Eagles and he will have to continue to improve if the Eagles are going to make a run at moving up the AAC standings.

Reinhardt led from start to finish in the game going into halftime with a commanding 48-27 lead. This lead was extended more in the second half as the Knights wore down and Coach Newton was able to clear his bench for quality game time.

Next up for the Eagles will be an exhibition game on Wednesday at NCAA Middle Tennessee State and then return back to campus on Saturday for an AAC Matchup with perennial AAC powerhouse - Union Bulldogs.  The Eagles have played them tough every time the two meet, but they just cannot put in the final bucket that will get them over the edge.  Maybe this Saturday will be the day the Eagles knock off the Bulldogs and make a statement to the league on what the second half of the season has in store.