COCHRAN, Ga. - Faulkner dropped a tough SSAC road decision Tuesday night in Morris Gymnasium, with a potential game winning shot at the buzzer missing as the Eagles went cold from the field in the second half in a 68-67 loss to Middle Georgia.
After shooting 57.9 percent from the floor in the first half, Faulkner led 37-33 with the Knights holding it close with 10 Eagle turnovers. Coming out of the break, Faulkner started hot with an 11-2 run over the first 5:08 with
Jonathan Garcia knocking down a couple of triples to open the lead to 13, but scored just 11 points over the next 11:13 with just three field goals for Middle Georgia to tie it at 58-58 with 3:39 to go.
The Eagles tied it two more times, but could not notch ahead. A pair of made free throws from the Knights gave the hosts a 66-62 lead before
Maliek Sadler hit a three with 20 seconds to go to make it a one point game with 20 seconds to play in his old gym. The Knights hit two more after the quick foul and Sadler countered with a layup to cancel it right back. Andrew Prestwood missed both of his free throws for the Knights and set up for
KJ Rogers a contested jumper to win it at the horn, but the shot missed for just the third loss against Middle Georgia in the last 16 games.
Sadler led the team with 14 points with Garcia adding 11 more. Victor Muñoz led the team with eight rebounds in his season debut.
Faulkner's losing streak slips to three as the Eagles get ready to go to a historically challenging gym in the Den at Loyola where the Montgomery-based side is just 2-12 since 2002. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in New Orleans.
