MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Faulkner used a 13-2 run late in the second half Sunday to stretch its lead as high at 23 points before coasting to an 89-73 victory over Stillman in Tine Davis Gymnasium. In a non-conference matchup between SSAC foes, the Eagles got more than 30 minutes out of four different players and utilized every available player to maximize a roster depleted by injury.
Faulkner held a seven-point lead heading into halftime and opened it to 12 with 12:40 left when
Jonathan Garcia tossed an alley-oop to
T.J. Williams off the inbound play, setting the forward up to finish the sequence with a violent dunk that also drew a foul. Williams finished the old-fashioned three-point play at the line.
The lead did not grow beyond 12 until
Jayden Cooper drained a three with 7:28 left to move it to 15. A
Sean McCurdy free throw ahead of a five-point run by Victor Muñozgot the advantage to 19.
J.C. Norris made a pair of free throws at the 3:38 mark to move the lead to 23 and send the game into cruise control.
Faulkner lost the rebounding battle and turned the ball over more, but still won second-chance points 17-9 and points off turnovers 19-9. The Eagles also dished 18 assists on 32 made baskets in the win.
Cooper led the way with 19 points to go along with dive rebounds and five assists. Norris finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three steals. McCurdy had 15 points and eight boards. Muñoz notched 14 points and 10 rebounds while Garcia had 12 points and five boards.
Faulkner (7-4, 2-2 SSAC) hosts William Carey in a conference game Tuesday at 7 p.m. before welcoming Montreat College Saturday at 2 p.m.
