by Taylor Hodges

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Eagles basketball team (16-8, 8-6) fell 89-82 on the road to No. 17 William Carey on Saturday afternoon.

Faulkner led the from the get-go in the first half, going up by as many as 10 points and was able to take a five-point lead heading into the break.

It was much of the same for the Eagles to begin the second half, going on a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 11 to begin the period.

The Crusaders started chipping away at the Faulkner lead with about 12 minutes to go and too their first lead of the half 6:52 remaining on a 3-point shot from Troy Salvant, and they wouldn't look back.

Marquis Grays reached a milestone in his Faulkner career when he scored is 1,000th career point in an Eagle uniform when he knocked down a 3-pointer seven minutes into the first half. Grays finished the game with nine points, going 3-for-six from behind the arc.

Rene Scott led the way for Faulkner, scoring 26 points.

Logan Jozwiak came away with 15 points and added seven rebounds.

Sean Edwards followed with 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

The Eagles will be back at Tine Davis Gymnasium on Thursday to face off against Southern States Athletic Conference rival Mobile at 7 p.m. No admission will be charged, but donations will be accepted for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund through the Play4Kay initiative. Pink t-shirts will be on sale for $10, with all proceeds going towards the Fund.