Eagles Narrowly Outscored by Bryan in Thrilling AAC Matchup

Waleska, GA - In a closely contested AAC basketball game on Tuesday evening, the Reinhardt Eagles faced a narrow defeat against the Bryan Lions with a final score of 82-85. Despite leading by 5 points at one instance in the second half, the Eagles could not hold onto their advantage and succumbed to a last-minute surge by the Lions.

The halftime scoreboard reflected a tight game, with the Eagles trailing slightly at 39-43. The tension continued into the second half, which saw multiple lead changes before reaching a climactic final few seconds. With the game hanging in the balance, Bryan's Dalen Gales had a chance to ice the game with free throws with less than five seconds in the game - but he only hit one of two, leaving the door open for the Eagles. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to convert the final play into points, leading to their third loss of the season. This was the first conference loss of the season for Reinhardt, but they will have a chance to even the score with Bryan later in the season.

Standout performances came from Tee Williams, who scored a team-high 21 points along with 5 rebounds and 3 steals, and Brasen James, who added 17 points and 6 rebounds. Notable contributions were also made by Nate Jones and Donovan Pearman, who helped keep the game competitive with crucial rebounds and steals. Jones was down slightly from his average, but he still managed to hit double figures, scoring 10. Pearman ended the game with 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals despite being in foul trouble during the game.

Derrick Brown had another solid game coming off the bench for the Eagles, scoring 15 points and ripping down a team-high 8 rebounds.

It was a tight game from beginning to end, and the Eagles just ran out of time in the game.

Eagles fans are already looking forward to the next challenge - Reinhardt will face Cumberland Phoenix on Saturday in Kingsport, TN. The Eagles aim to bounce back from this minor setback and improve their record of 5-3. This game is part of "The Show" Tournament, which has many competitive NAIA schools playing this weekend.  They will also play on Sunday in the tournament, facing Freed-Hardeman. As they prepare for their next games, the team remains optimistic about their prospects in the AAC and their overall trajectory this season.

photos by NicoleCPhotography