COCHRAN, Ga. – The No. 7 ranked Faulkner Eagles suffered their first conference loss of the season Friday night as they fell 89-85 to Middle Georgia State. The quintessential back-and-forth contest saw the lead change 22 times as the Knights sought to narrow the gap in the SSAC East.

The teams volleyed the lead 12 times in the first half including a stretch of less than three minutes in which they exchanged the advantage six times. Jahwan Smith knocked down a shot with 1:56 to play in the opening half to put Middle Georgia on top 38-36. The Knights stretched it to as many as four before a Jordan Hamlette and-1 transaction cut it to 40-39 going into half.

The intensity remained in the opening minutes of the second half as Garrett Sanderson knocked down a three to put Faulkner back on top before Josue Passius answered with a triple of his own 32 seconds later. Sanderson and Smith then swapped threes and the lead again just 18 seconds apart. Austin Rogers cashed in a C.J. Williamson assist at the 17:56 mark to return the advantage to the Eagles before Taylor Mitchell converted a Smith pass to notch MGA up 48-47.

After Williamson hit a free throw at the 17:19 mark, Jordan Willis dropped a three to put the Knights up 51-49 with 16:59 remaining in the contest. A Derrick Donigan free throw and a Trace Hill three-pointer put Faulkner up with 15:40 to play. The Eagles ran the lead to as many as eight with 7:15 to go.

That's when Middle Georgia mounted its charge. Tristan Harper made a shot in the paint to cut it to six before hitting two free throws to narrow the gap to four. Willis then hit two free throws with 5:23 to go to slice it to two before Donigan hit a shot to run it back to four.

Harper hit a three with 4:03 to play to cut it to one. After a Sanderson bucket gave Faulkner a little more cushion, Willis made all three free throws in a trip to tie the game at 76 with 3:26 to go.
Ijon Owens hit a three to give Middle the lead with 2:38 to go before Williamson hit a free throw to tie the game at 79. Harper hit another three with 1:52 left to mark the 22nd lead change of the night and put the Knights on top for good.

Middle Georgia hit 46 percent of its shots from the floor including 36 percent from three. The Knights hit eight threes in the second half and 12 in the game. Middle Georgia assists on 26 of its 32 made baskets.
Faulkner hits 46 percent of its shots from the floor and 37 percent from three while winning the rebounding battle 35-29. The Eagles turned the ball over 16 times, resulting in 21 Middle Georgia points.

Passius scored 20 points on 14 shots to go along with six rebounds and four assists in leading the Knights. Harper and Johnson had 16 points each while Willis added 10 for MGA.

Hamlette topped Faulkner with 21 points. Sanderson finished with 17 while Williamson had 15. Donigan and Hill scored 13 each.
Faulkner (16-2, 7-1 SSAC) returns to action Saturday to face Middle Georgia for the third time this season.