PANAMA CITY, Fla. – Faulkner found itself in a fight with a game Mid-America Christian squad for much of the night Tuesday before pulling away for an 80-59 victory.

The Evangels narrowed a 15-point deficit to nine by halftime and kept it there until the 14:15 mark of the second half when Derrick Donigan connected with a shot that ignited a 10-0 Faulkner run that all but put the game out of reach.

The against the receiving votes squad closed the second day of Battle at the Beach at the Billy Harrison Fieldhouse on the campus of Gulf State College. The site will be a memorable one for Trace Hill whose layup with 15:59 to play inaugurated him into Faulkner's 1,000-point club. The feat made him the first Eagle to reach the feat since Rene Scott in 2019.

Hill finished the night with 20 points and eight rebounds, game highs in both categories. C.J. Hines added 17 points for Faulkner to go along with four rebounds and five assists. Daniel Garmendia also finished with 17 points.

The Eagles shot 46.6 percent from the field while limiting MACU to 36.4 percent. Faulkner narrowly edged the Evangels in rebounding 35-32 and took the second chance points category 17-8.

Faulkner (7-0, 2-0 SSAC) closes out Battle at the Beach action Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Missouri Baptist.