PULASKI, Tenn. – Faulkner used a late 17-2 run to erase a double digit halftime deficit on the way to upending SSAC foe Martin Methodist 69-67 Saturday afternoon. C.J. Williamson (SO/Guntersville, Ala.) dropped a shot with 5:59 to go in the game, giving Faulkner its first lead since the opening bucket at 57-56. Darrin Jenkins converted an and-1 at the other end moments later to put Martin up 59-57 before Faulkner fired back.

Milan Skundric (SR/Negotin, Serbia) hit a shot with 4:52 to play to tie it before knocking down two free throws at the 2:46 mark to put the Eagles 61-59. Jenkins came up big again for the home team with 2:11 to go when he made both ends of a double shot trip to the line.

Williamson struck again just nine seconds later when his field goal put Faulkner up two. He followed with a pair of free throws at the 1:45 mark to stretch the lead to 65-61. After a C.J. Jones (SR/Port Richey, Fla.) bucket, Williamson made two more charity stripe chances with 13 seconds to play to ice the game.

Williamson hung 18 of his game high 29 points in the second half including 14 in the final 10 minutes. The sophomore also grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the game in that category. Jones was the only other Eagle to score in double figures as he posted 11 points and seven rebounds. Skundric and Nate Bradley (SR/Concord, N.Y.) put up nine points each.

Martin Methodist won the shooting battle in every category. The Red Hawks hit 47.2 percent of their shots from the floor, 39.1 percent from three and 72.7 percent from the free throw line. Conversely, Faulkner shot 40.7 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free throw line. The Eagles also failed to make a three-point shot in the game.

The difference in the game proved to be the volume of free throws the Eagles made. Faulkner hit 21 of 30 attempts from the line just two nights after it struggled to a 52.9 percent clip against Dalton State.

Faulkner (6-2, 1-1 SSAC) returns to action Friday when it travels to Panama City, Fla. for the Battle at the Beach. The inaugural eight-team tournament will see the Eagles open with Carver College as it prepares to play three games in as many days. The field also includes No. 6 LSU-Alexandria, No. 8 Talladega, Lindsey Wilson, Thomas, Voorhees and Valley City State.