MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Faulkner started the second half slowly but battled back from an 11 point deficit and with just under four minutes to go cut the deficit to three and had two possessions with a chance to tie but missed both shots allowing William Carey to pulled away late as the Eagles fell 83-73 Saturday afternoon in Tine Davis Gymnasium.

Maliek Sadler flushed home a bounce pass from Gabriel Rivera with 3:56 to play to put Faulkner down just 71-68. The Eagles sent the Crusaders to the line but the visitors missed both free throws to get Faulkner a chance to tie if for the first time in the half. The shot on the offensive end missed but the Eagles forced a turnover to get another chance. Faulkner could not get that chance to fall and Dylan Brumfield's layup at 2:08 made it a two possession game. After another Faulkner turnover, Cam Brown's fastbreak layup made it a 75-68 game. 

The Eagles scored just five points over the last 3:55 with all five coming from Jonathan Garcia. 

The first half ended 37-35 with William Carey in the lead and the Crusaders started with a 7-0 run over the first two minutes of the second to open it up and put Faulkner playing catch-up the rest of the day. 

Sadler ended the game with a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards to lead the team in both categories and the floor on the glass. KJ Rogers added 14, Rivera 12, Jordan Johnson 11 and Garcia 10 as five players ended in double figures in the balanced scoring attack. 

William Carey's scoring was led by Brown's 32 and Brunfield's 21. Ashton Campbell added 14 and the rest of the Crusaders added just 14 combined. 
 
The loss marked the first home loss of the season for the Eagles who fell to 8-1 in the friendly confines. 

Faulkner looks to break a two game slide for the second time this season Tuesday night against Middle Georgia State at 6:30 central.  Read Full Article