BY JOEL SELLERS

FAULKNER SPORTS NETWORK

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner followed its emotional, conference-clinching win over Dalton State with another come-from-behind victory on Senior Day. The Eagles won their Homecoming matchup 80-76 over Martin Methodist at Tine Davis Gymnasium Saturday. Martin Methodist had a greater percentage of made field goals and 3-pointers. However, Faulkner scored 21 points off of miscues and tallied 12 steals to the RedHawks' four. The Eagles also had 40 rebounds, 15 of them by the offense, to the visitors' 34.

Faulkner led by as much as 10 points in the first half when Garrett Sanderson (JR/Montgomery, Ala.) followed his steal with a basket to give his team a 20-10 lead with 11:14 on the clock. However, the RedHawks, trailing 26-17 with 8:38 remaining until halftime, made it a one-score game for the first time since the opening minutes with two consecutive threes. Brandon Reeves (JR/Mansfield, Texas) then restored a two-score cushion for his team. Milan Skundric (SR/Negotin, Serbia) grabbed the offensive rebound after Reeves missed a free throw, and Reeves made up for the miss with a two-hand slam, his only points of the contest. At the 3:25 mark, the visitors claimed a 35-33 lead, their first since 2-0, by going on an 8-0 run that featured two three-pointers by Felix Hayes. C.J. Jones (SR/Port Richey, Fla.) gave Faulkner the lead back by scoring the next five points, but Martin Methodist reclaimed it at 40-38 going into halftime when Aaron Shambry hit a 3-point bucket with three seconds left in the half.

The teams mostly exchanged scores for the first 10 minutes of the second half. Sanderson and Jones each hit threes to stake Faulkner to its largest lead of the half, 63-58, with 8:31 left in the game. The visitors then went on an 8-0 run to regain the lead and they would not lose it until the 4:12 mark when Trace Hill (SO/Hartselle, Ala.) got the block and rebound to set up a go-ahead basket and a 71-69 lead. The visitors refused to go away, as Martin reclaimed the lead on two different occasions. Brady Brown hit a 3-pointer to give his team a 74-71 advantage and Tomonique Marion made a bucket with two minutes left after a three-point play by Skundric. With 54 seconds remaining, Jones was fouled on a 3-point attempt. He drained all three of the free throws to make the score 77-76 in Faulkner's favor. Nate Bradley (SR/Concord, N.Y.) got in on the act when he got a steal after a Felix Hayes turnover and gave his team a three-point lead. With 17 seconds on the clock, Jones was fouled after another steal and made the game-sealing free throw.

Skundric paced Faulkner, registering 20 points, seven boards, two steals, and three assists. Jones tallied 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double to go along with two blocks, two steals, and three assists. Bradley had eight points, four rebounds, two steals, and six assists. C.J. Williamson (SO/Guntersville, Ala.) gathered in five boards and had two steals to go with his eight points, and Hill had seven points along with three rebounds and two blocks. 

Skundric, Jones, and Bradley were among those playing in the final home game of their college careers. These three were honored before the game, along with teammates and fellow seniors Jacob Spence (SR/Fernandina Beach, Fla.), Jamon Moore (SR/Albany, Ga.), and Deonte Ross (SR/Jonesboro, Ga.).

The Eagles finish the regular season 26-3 and 17-1 in conference play, riding their winning streak to 17 games. Faulkner will look to continue it on March 5 in the first round of the SSAC Men's Basketball Championship at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in downtown Montgomery.