MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The new year started in a familiar fashion for the shorthanded Eagles Tuesday evening at Tine Davis Gymnasium going toe-to-toe but running out of gas to comeback against the UT Southern Firehawks 81-74 in SSAC play.
A 5-0 run from Victor Muñoz, put Faulkner ahead 52-49 with 14:37, but the Firehawks answered back the ensuing possession with a Malik Tyson three and took the lead one possession later to take the lead for good.
The Eagles kept it close despite some spurts from the still unbeaten team in their first season back in the SSAC, never letting it get into double digits but down the stretch could not parlay baskets and stops.
The starting five scored every point.
Jayden Cooper led the team with 24 points and fours assists. He also added a team second best seven boards. Muñoz had the most rebounds with eight with a second-best 17 points.
Jonathan Garcia and
Sean McCurdy added 13 and 11 points, respectively.
J.C. Norris added nine with four assists.
The starters all went over 33 minutes with four going over 35. The only sub of the second half was with 26 seconds to go when Muñoz fouled out.
The Eagles hit two more threes than the Firehawks, but UTS was nearly perfect from the stripe and hit seven more free throws.
Faulkner travels to Dalton State to take on the Roadrunners Saturday at 1 p.m. central.
