Eagles' Press Too Much for Visiting Royals

Waleska, GA - In an action-packed AAC basketball showdown, the RU Eagles secured a dominant victory over the visiting Royals of Johnson University, 91-82. The Eagles showcased their strength and depth, leading to a crucial win that moved them up a spot in the AAC standings.

Reinhardt started off strong and maintained their lead, ending the first half up 45-34. Coach Newton seemed to surprise the Royals by coming out with a tight press.  Johnson did not have an answer to the press and continued to turn the ball over, creating easy scoring chances for the Eagles. Reinhardt sustained a lead of around ten points the entire first half, and they did not allow Johnson to get into their set office. It was a move that was the difference maker in the game and the players seemed to buy into the new pressure defense.

Their performance was bolstered by key players Tee Williams and Derrick Brown, who were the top scorers for the Eagles. Williams dazzled with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Brown impressed with a double-double scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, adding to that 2 steals and a block.

Other notable contributions came from Nekhi Fisher, Donovan Pearman, Nate Jones, and Brasen James, who all played pivotal roles in maintaining the lead. Pearman's all-around efforts with 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 4 assists along with Fisher's and Jones' scoring added depth to the Eagles' game. The Royals were able to pull the game to within two points with about ten minutes left in the game, but the team's performance peaked in the final minutes, gaining a substantial 16-point lead with only 1:40 minutes left on the clock.  It was a great team win for the Eagles with all players contributing in the victory.

Looking ahead, the Eagles aim to continue their momentum as they prepare to host their next AAC contest in Waleska on Saturday versus Union Commonwealth. So far, February has been perfect for the Eagles and they will look to extend the two-game winning stream against the visiting Bulldogs.

Current AAC Standings (as of 12 pm, 2/6/2025)