Having not taken the court since January 9th due to a couple of game cancellations by opponents, the Golden Eagles were ready to get after it. And after it, they got in a resounding 101-47 win over visiting Andrews University on Sunday.
The "new look" starting lineup featured James Roundtree who struck lightning scoring KSU Tusc's first five points for a 5-0 lead. Roundtree made a nice pass and cut on his first hoop and added an offensive stick back, free throw and a jumper converting on seven of Eagles first 11 points of the game as the hosts jumped to an 11-2 lead. Throwdowns by Kyle and Kameron Shockley contributed to the breakout.
Andrews trailed by nine (22-13) at the 11:25 mark of the opening half, before the Golden Eagles got their scoring machine in gear ending the first half on a 35-8 spurt to take a 57-21 lead into the locker room.
They turned the temperature up on the Cardinals enough to melt the snow piled outside of Founders Hall Gym, at one point coming up with thefts on four of six AU possessions to put the game on ice.
Vinny Roper made steals on three consecutive Andrews offensive possessions setting the table for a dunk and two easy baskets by teammates, while Kyle Shockley robbed the Cardinals of possessions twice as the Eagles hiked their lead to 43-15 with high percentage shots.
Roundtree and Kyle Shockley made a curtain call with a repeat performance of the game's start splitting the first eight points of the final 20 minutes for a 65-24 lead. Only five minutes deep into the half, a 16-0 navy and gold run boosted the advantage to 81-29 and after a pair of buckets, the Eagles went on a 13-0 tear for a 94-33 lead.
Their largest lead of the game (62 points) came with 3:01 left after a Juwan Coates basket made the score 99-37.
Kameron Shockley led 12 Golden Eagles into the scorebook with 21 points, Kyle Shockley dropped in 18, Ethan Bower scored 14 with four triples and Roundtree had 11.
The USCAA DII, No. 4 Eagles are now 14-6 on the season and travel to Penn State Fayette on Friday, January 26th for a 6pm tipoff.
Kyle Shockley makes a steal and tossed in 18 points against Andrews University.
James Roundtree had a season high 11 points against the Cardinals and Juwan Coates is getting worn like a coat by an Andrews player.
(Photos by Lindsey Nicholson)