MCKENZIE, Tenn.- On Saturday night, the Southeastern University men's basketball team found themselves in another offensive shootout in The Volunteer State. However, the Fire came up short this time, falling to the NAIA Division I RV Bethel University Wildcats 103-93 to split their opening weekend of play in the Chick-Fil-A Classic.
Turnovers proved to be costly for SEU, as Bethel was able to bucket 29 points off of 19 Southeastern giveaways.
The first half featured a back-and-forth battle much like Southeastern's opening contest. There were a total of eight ties and nine lead changes throughout the first 20 minutes of action.
Sophomore guard
Isaiah Moody was an early spark for the Fire, scoring six of his 11 points within the first four minutes of play.
Despite out-shooting the Wildcats 28-18 in the paint throughout the first half, Bethel's advantage of five three-point shots made to one by Southeastern helped earn BU the 43-40 advantage heading into the locker room.
The combination of senior guard
Blake Morrow and junior guard
Karl Jeanty scoring nine points out of the half helped surge SEU to a 49-49 tie with 17:49 to go.
However, the Wildcats put forth a pivotal 10-0 run in response to go up 59-49, as the Fire were never able to cut the deficit to below five after that.
After shooting an impressive 81.8% (9-11) from the free throw line in the first half, SEU struggled at the charity stripe in the second half, converting just 46.2% (6-13) of their free throws.
Morrow had another impressive offensive game for the Fire, totaling 30 points for his second-straight 30-point game. Jeanty turned in a double-double for SEU, scoring 15 while hauling in 12 rebounds.
With his jumper made with 10 seconds remaining in the game, senior point guard
Jeremy Oppenheimer scored his 13
th point of the game and more significantly, the 1,000 point of his collegiate career.
The Fire look to bounce back in their home and Sun Conference opener next Saturday November 16 at 7:00 p.m. in The Furnace.
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