MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner followed the same script it had followed for the rest of the weekend by getting out to an early lead, having a direct answer to every push or rally by the opposition, and having the defense crack down late when it mattered. For the third time, it resulted in a win as the Eagles held on and finished on a run to defeat the Keiser Seahawks 85-75 in the final game of the Battle at the Beach.
On three different occasions in the second half, Keiser came back to make it a one-score game, but was unable to regain the lead. With 8:58 on the clock, after the second of those rallies, in which the Seahawks made the score 60-59,
Jordan Hamlette responded with a bucket, and
Garrett Sanderson nailed a three to build back a cushion after
Brandon Reeves gathered in a key defensive rebound. Keiser once again refused to go away, pulling within two points with 3:28 left in the game.
C.J. Williamson grabbed the offensive rebound after
Trace Hill's miss and tipped it in the basket. Williamson answered once again after a bucket on the other end by CoreVon Lott with a one-handed layup. After a miss by Ryan Kroll, Williamson got a defensive and offensive rebound on the same sequence before he added two more points via free throws. After this occurred, Hamlette got a steal and Williamson once again cashed in with a basket off a teammate's miss. The Eagles rode free throws and rebounding to finish off the visitors from West Palm Beach, Fla.
"Well, they just, they have a plan," Coach
Scott Sanderson said of Keiser after the game. "Their coach does a very good job, and they understand who's supposed to shoot the ball and where they shoot the ball from. And so, you know, I think they'll be a national tournament team. They're very good, they're very disciplined. They're going to win a lot of basketball games. And I told our team just a minute ago, that was a very good win against a very good, disciplined basketball team."
Williamson continued his tear in this tournament, racking up 33 points, breaking his previous career high set two days earlier against Thomas, to go with 11 rebounds and three assists. He averaged 29 points and 10 rebounds over the weekend.
"He just, you know, he knows where guys are …." Sanderson said about Williamson's tendency to pass to his teammates when he has open looks. "He knows, he's driving down with his left hand, he knows Garrett's over to that left-hand hook pass, and he's got Trace in the other corner with a guy rolling…., so he knows where guys are when he's driving. We run a lot of different stuff, but he knows where guys are positioned to be. And, you know, he scored 33 points on 21 shots, and I thought was very, very effective for us. You know, 'cause he can get to the rim, he can shoot the pullup, he can shoot the three, and he can drive down and create for other people."
Hamlette also made his mark with 14 points, five boards, three assists, and two steals. Hill added 12 points, eight rebounds, and two assists to Faulkner's total.
Lott had a similar role to Williamson in Keiser's game plan, and he also tallied 33 points. Quinton Glaspie scored nine points, five rebounds, and three blocks, and Marko Radulovic racked up 10 boards.
The fact that the tournament went on without a disruption is another feat to pair with the results and statistics. Coach Sanderson said that his team has shown grit and toughness in this tournament, specifically tonight, and the team is staying focused on what they can control and figuring out how to be successful and deal with the challenges that cannot be controlled.
The Eagles now up their record to 6-0 with the win, and Keiser falls to 4-4. Faulkner will stay at home for its next matchup on Dec. 3 against Rust College.
