HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Eagles and Crusaders traded punches for the first 20 minutes Thursday night in Clinton Gymnasium but an 11-0 run by (RV) William Carey early in the second half was too much to overcome in an 88-78 loss in SSAC play despite Tanner Vogel's monstrous double-double.

After a blistering first half that saw four lead changes and 94 combined points on nearly 56 percent shooting, Vogel had 13 points and 10 rebounds to accompany four assists and a block and a steal. However, the Eagles still trailed by 49-45 as WCU connected on five threes to Faulkner's zero to provide a cushion for the hosts. 

Vogel scored the first two buckets of the second half to tie before Randarius Hughes's layup reclaimed the lead for William Carey. Vogel grabbed another offensive board and tipped in the tying bucket again, but Makeem Roberts's second chance layup at 18:24 started an 11-0 run over the next three minutes that provided the space the Crusaders used to hold on as the teams essentially traded buckets for the last 15 minutes with the Eagles getting no closer than three possessions the rest of the way.

Vogel finished with 26 points, 15 rebounds (nine offensive), 4 assists, three steals and a block.

Jordyn Turner-Durley scored 11 and Gideon Harris and Francois-Dony Baba added 10. 

Turner-Durley and Kamal Green each had four assists as well. 

The nation's steal leader Makeem Roberts stole six possessions as the Crusaders took an insane 18 steals off 22 turnovers creating 22 points off turnovers. 

The Eagles look to rebound against West Division leaders Loyola Saturday at 2 in New Orleans. Read Full Article