GRACEVILLE, Fla. –Truett McConnell University men's basketball (3-2) head back to Cleveland, Ga. with one win over two contests at the BUF Shootout in Eagle Gymnasium in Graceville, Fla.
Game 1 (Friday): TMU 67, Faulkner 88
Truett McConnell opened the weekend with a hard-fought loss to the Faulkner University Eagles after a slow start to the contest. The Eagles, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, started strong with a 52-point first half, headlined by 10 points from Levi White and Kamal Green II each. Faulkner also shot 53% from three in the first frame which contributed to an 11-0 run from 8:02-5:31.
Despite the difficult start
Preston Tuggle still provided some positivity for the Bears as he contributed 15 points and eight rebounds in the first half.
Truett McConnell outscored Faulkner in the second half, made possible by seven second-half points from
Ryan Neal and six second-frame points from Tuggle,
Calvin Carter II,
Preston Kent and
Devon McField. The Bears were able to bring the contest to a 19-point differential, but despite outscoring the Eagles 39-36 in the second half were unable to bring themselves within striking distance in the closing minutes.
Tuggle led the team at the cup and on the glass with 21 points and 12 rebounds while Carter II joined him in double-digits at 10 points.
Game 2 (Saturday): TMU 87, Baptists University of Florida 73
The Bears were determined to leave Florida with a victory and showed their determination through a 14-point win over the Baptist University of Florida Eagles on Saturday.
Preston Tuggle had a career day, posting new highs in both points and rebounds with 25 and 16 respectively.
Truett McConnell set the tone from the tip-off with an 11-2 run to open the game. Junior
Emanuel Befekadu fueled the streak with five points, one rebound and one assist. The Bears posted another impressive run from 4:57-1:34 to outscore the Eagles 10-2 and entered halftime with an eight point lead as
Ryan Neal drained a three with six seconds left.
Baptist University of Florida refused to go down without a fight, climbing back from their halftime deficit and taking an 58-56 lead at 11:50 sparked by Omari Henry and Jordan Isaac's 12-point second halves.
The Bears snatched back their lead to close out the second half with a 14-2 run that featured eight points from Tuggle as the Bears leaped to an 85-70 advantage. After a handful of Eagles free throws and a dunk from
Christian Moore the contest settled at 87-73.
Alongside Tuggle's 25/16/2 marks,
Preston Kent also offered 13 points, six rebounds and four assists and sophomore
Connor Williams showed poise in his first career start with eight points and five rebounds.
TMU men's basketball will be back in Cleveland, Ga. on November 11
th as they open Appalachian Athletic Conference play at Colby Tilley Court in Benjamin F. Brady Arena against the Bryan College Lions.
