Jones, James, & Seitz Keep Eagles Close in Track Meet at "The Show"

Kingsport, TN - In a challenging first game at "The Show" in Kingsport, the Reinhardt Eagles faced a tough defeat against the Cumberland Phoenix on Saturday afternoon, with a final score of 88-78. The Phoenix came into the game with a losing record overall (3-6 currently), but that record does not reflect this team's talent. They pushed the ball from start to finish and shot at almost 60% in the game. Many of these baskets were transition layups, but they made a few three-pointers when needed.

The Eagles, who played a robust first half, concluded it trailing the Phoenix by seven points, with the halftime score set at 49-42 in favor of Cumberland. Despite spirited attempts to bridge the gap, Reinhardt University found themselves outpaced, especially in the second half, where Cumberland extended their lead to 15 points at one stage. Reinhardt was never out of the game and actually had a small lead in the first half, however, the Phoenix would always bounce back once the Eagles caught up.

Top performers for the Eagles included Brasen James and Nate Jones, each contributing 15 points. James also managed a double-double with 10 rebounds. Tee Williams added 12 points and 6 rebounds to the effort. Redshirt freshman Blake Seitz had one of his best games of the season, coming off the bench and scoring 14 points for the Eagles.  Early in the game, he led the Eagles in scoring after hitting two back-to-back three-pointers, pulling the Eagles back into the game.

Another redshirt freshman, David Freeman, also had a good game, scoring 8 points for the Eagles.  It was the first points of the season for him and gave a small spark to the Eagles along with Seitz.

This was a great college basketball game, but it just did not go in favor of the Eagles today.  Notably missing was the sixth man for the Eagles - Derrick Brown, who is averaging 11.8 points per game and would have made a difference in the rebounding department for the Eagles.  He leads the team in rebounding at 51 total on the season despite not playing in today's game.

Looking ahead, the Reinhardt Eagles aim to regroup and focus on their next challenge in the tournament. They will face the Lions of Freed-Hardeman on December 1, 2024, at the same venue in Kingsport, TN. The Lions won their first game of the tournament earlier in the day over Indiana East, 81-52.  Freed-Hardeman currently has a 10-1 record overall this season. The Eagles now hold a season record of 5-4, but they have shown they can regroup quickly to get ready for the next opponent. Sunday afternoon should be just as exciting a game as Saturday's game.