Box Score MARIETTA, Ga. – The Fire went to the half with a double-digit cushion, but saw it fall away in the second 20 minutes. Life University rallied early in the second half, shot a high percentage and held off Southeastern University late in a 93-82 loss on the second day of the Ken Woods Memorial Classic at Life University.
The Fire built a 10-point lead 12 minutes into the afternoon, 35-25, on a Nelson Reynolds jumper. The visitors pushed the advantage to as many as 14 points before a Running Eagles buzzer-beater made it 55-45 at half. Life erased its deficit in the first five minutes of the second half, ran off six points in a row after a 70-70 tie and held off SEU in a late comeback try.
After downing 24 treys in Friday's opening night, SEU (1-1) connected on only 10 of 34 tries Saturday. Overall, it was a tale of two halves for the Fire's offense where they hit almost 64 percent (21-of-33) and 7-of-15 from 3-point land in the first 20 minutes. SEU put the ball in the net on only 10-of-37 attempts in the second stanza and only three were 3-pointers. Life was efficient as it finished at 34-of-58 final field goal tries (58.6%).
"We came out in the first half playing like we did last night," said head coach, Hudson Welty, "But Life made some adjustments in the second half that gave our guys some problems. We will watch film and learn from this as we get back to work on Monday."
Leading the Fire attack, Reynolds came off the bench with four 3-pointers and 18 points. Ahmad Johnson contributed 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. Nathan Mikkelson chipped in 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and a block. Derek Murphy missed a double-double by two points with 11 rebounds, eight points and four assists.
Ja'Quay Randolph dumped in nine points to go with six rebounds and a pair of steals off the bench. Kyonte Thomas downed a pair of triples for six points and had three assists, while Joshua Blazquez had five points and eight boards.
Life outscored SEU by a 16-6 margin the second half's first 3:55 for a 61-61 deadlock. Trailing 70-68, the home club ran off an 8-pot spurt for a lead it would not give up at 76-70.
Mikkelson put down a dunk with 1:10 and pulled SEU to within four points, 82-78. The Fire momentum was stopped three seconds later on a made Eagles 3-pointer and ensuing free throw for a 4-point play.
SEU returns home for its own SEU Classic on Friday, with an opening match-up against the University of Mobile. Top of is at 7 p.m..
