MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The No. 10 Faulkner Eagles rode a first-half rally and second-half surge to defeat Middle Georgia State 85-78 tonight at Tine Davis Gymnasium Monday. The home team finished the first half on a 10-2 run to go into the locker room with a 39-34 lead. 

The Eagles then came out swinging to open the second period, beginning with a Jordan Hamlette three, the only long-range shot they would convert in the half. C.J. Williamson scored the next 13 points, culminating in a slam-dunk and an easy layup, that staked his team to a 55-42 advantage. With 7:08 and then 5:55 left in the game, respectively. C.J. Hines restored double-digit leads for his team with baskets following his own offensive rebounds. However, the Knights refused to go away, scoring the next eight points after the latter score from the freshman to make it a four-point margin. 

With the visitors primed for another scoring play after a defensive rebound, Trace Hill grabbed the board after the miss, leading to Williamson's pullup jumper. About 90 seconds later, Hines got the rebound after Juwan Johnson's missed 3-pointer, which led to Hamlette's layup to make the score 77-72. After a Jordan Willis basket, Garrett Sanderson drove the ball down the court by maneuvering it behind his back to evade a defender and provided the assist to Hines's next bucket. After exchanging scores, Hamlette took away any hope the opposition had of making it a one-score game by making the rebound after Chris Parker's miss and getting fouled. Hill later iced the game by making two free throws. 

Faulkner scored 48 points in the paint to the Knights' 22, and won the battle of points off turnovers 18-4. These stats were key, as the visitors actually outperformed Faulkner on field goals and free throws. The Eagles, however, forced 16 turnovers while committing only 11, with five steals to Middle Georgia State's three, 42 rebounds to the latter's 37, and 19 fouls compared to their 24. 

"Our emphasis was trying to guard, trying to defend better," said Coach Scott Sanderson. "And we got out in the first half and the second half, both times we made runs was because of our defense. We got stops and got out in the open floor, and when we get stops and get out in the open floor, we're really good. But we've had some lapses here, and we're just not consistently getting stops. We'll get up 14 or 15, and they'll come back and hit a couple of threes. But all in all, you know, it was a good win for us." 

Hamlette had a career night for the Eagles, racking up 30 points, four assists, five rebounds, and three steals. His previous high was 22 points, set against Thomas this season and, in 2017, against Ohio State-Mansfield while he was at Lindsey Wilson. Williamson totaled 17 points, three assists, and eight rebounds. Sanderson scored 11 points, five boards, and three assists. Hines chipped in 10 points and seven boards, continuing his tear from this past weekend's doubleheader against Brewton-Parker. 

Willis led Middle Georgia State by also tallying 30 points, nine rebounds, and two steals. Johnson was next on the score sheet with 13 points, seven boards, and three blocks. Josue Passius had seven points, four assists, and three boards. 

The Eagles improve to 13-1 and 4-0 in conference play, while the Knights lose their first game of the year, which was their first SSAC game and first since Nov. 11, to fall to 3-1 on the season. Faulkner stays in Montgomery for its next series of games this weekend, which will prove crucial, as it is pitted against a Florida College team that is averaging 84.7 points per game; the Eagles are averaging 86.5.