The Golden Eagles basketball team failed to stay on script Sunday afternoon, as they lost on the road (97-82) at Miami Middletown and their record fell to 16-8 on the season. It was the second loss of the season to the now 4-18 Thunderhawks who seem to have KSU Tusc's number.
Job one, for Coach Richard Tharp's Eagles, was to maintain their momentum with just one game left before the post season bids are awarded on Thursday. Job two, was to improve on their road record which was one game above .500 hundred which now stands at 5-5. They did not pass either test.
It looked like KSU Tusc forgot to punch their timecards, as the Thunderhawks ran past them to take a commanding 51-23 halftime lead. With 8:52 left to play the Eagles trailed by just six points 20-14, but a free throw and three triples later the deficit was 30-14. The clock showed 2:35 when they scored their last basket as a spate of turnovers and missed shots led to easy baskets and the hole got deeper.
In the opening half, the Eagles struggled mightily to shoot the ball and defend the Thunderhawk shooters. They were sunk by 8/30 shooting for a dismal 27% and made just 3/15 three point tries for the game (20%).
The Thunderhawks fared much better and outscored the Eagles 27-9 from behind the three-point arc, making 9/15 for the game (60%) and 5/7 in the first half alone (71%). Collectively, they blistered the nets with 59% shooting making 38/64 attempts. They also got 33 points from their bench, while the Eagles got just 19.
KSU Tusc was much better in the second half, converting on 21/39 shots for 54%, but they still trailed by 29 points (65-36) at one point of the game due to their early shooting woes. They did win the second half outscoring MUM 59-46.
The final outcome casted long shadows over performances by London Cobbs and DeJuan Lawrence. Cobbs led all scorers with 27 points and was 3/6 from behind the three-point arc, made 10/13 free throws and had three steals. Lawrence recorded his 14th double-double of the season with 19 points and 17 rebounds. He made 8/15 field goals and blocked three shots. Kyle Shockely was also in double figures with 11 points to go along with three steals.
On Wednesday, the Eagles travel to Clark State before finishing the season next Saturday at USCAA No. 3 Miami Hamilton. Sandwiched in between those two games is the USCAA post season bid show on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when the Golden Eagles find their post season fate.
Kyle Shockley tries to make a pass through the Thunderhawk defense.
JaJuantate Young finds the going tought inside the lane, while DeJuan Lawrence had his 14th double double at MUM. Photos by Jason Keller