Eagles Jump Two Spots in AAC Standings with Truett McConnell Win

Waleska, GA—On Wednesday night, the Eagles soared to a 99-89 victory over the visiting Bears of Truett McConnell in a thrilling AAC basketball showdown on the campus of Reinhardt University. The Eagles' standout performance was marked by strategic plays and strong leadership, particularly from Tee Williams, who scored 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, leading his team both offensively and defensively. However, it was a full team effort, and each player who touched the floor contributed to the hard-fought win!

The game kicked off with the Eagles setting an aggressive pace as they took an early lead with a crowd-pleasing dunk from Brasen James. James took a layup straight to the defending Bear's chest and continued to rise above to slam the ball home. It was definitely a statement moment in the game! Tee Williams then extended the lead with a significant early 3-pointer. Players like Williams and Donovan Pearman, who contributed substantially to scoring, helped the Eagles establish a commanding lead of 19 points by the end of the first period, which concluded at 57-43 in favor of Reinhardt.

The remainder of the starting lineup helped Williams in the scoring department, with Nekhi Fisher and Nate Jones both adding 13 points each. James ended the game with 8 points, and Pearman had 10 points to go along with 5 assists.

In the second half, Reinhardt continued their dominant performance. Key plays included another dunk by Tee Williams and notable defensive efforts resulting in numerous steals, with Zae Wiggins and Nate Jones playing pivotal roles. Despite a late surge from Truett McConnell to close the gap to just 8 points, the Eagles maintained control, ultimately sealing the game with a 10-point lead, ending at 99-89. Their victory not only demonstrates their playing capabilities but also significantly improves their standing in the AAC, moving them up from ninth to seventh place.

The Eagles stuck to their pressing defense, which definitely caused issues for the Bears.  The turnovers by Truett McConnell led to many quick buckets for the Eagles. A key stat for the Eagles was the production it received from its bench during the game. The Eagles got 33 points from its reserves, helping the team keep the significant lead for the majority of the game. Tucker Lowe, Derrick Brown, and Zae Wiggins each had 9 points. Blake Seitz added 6 points, including a first-half dunk!  No matter what the Bears tried, they seemed not to have an answer for the Eagles' offense, even when the game was close in the final minutes.

Keeping up the momentum, the Eagles are preparing to face the Koalas of Columbia University on their turf in Columbia, SC, this Saturday. It is the final regular-season game for the Eagles before the AAC Tournament next week. The team's success in February—going 5-1 so far—gives Eagles fans reason to be excited about the upcoming tournament.

photo by NicoleCphotography.com