MARIETTA, Ga. – The Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team fell to Life (Ga.) 82-76 on Sunday at the Eagles' Nest.
The Blue Raider (16-12, 7-8 MSC) team that had played so well in the past seven games was just never able to put together consistent possessions on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, ultimately falling to the host Running Eagles (14-14, 5-9 MSC).
Despite shooting 46 percent (24-52) from the floor and 50 percent (8-16) from three-point range, Lindsey Wilson fell behind early and trailed Life for the remainder of the game, unable to get a stop when it was needed most.
The game began as a back and forth contest with both teams quickly running the floor. Life was able to slice through the Blue Raider defense and get to the hoop while the Blue Raiders made mid-range jumpers to answer.
Both teams started things off sloppy committing a combined 20 turnovers in the first half, 11 by Lindsey Wilson and nine by Life.
Life tried to pull away as they built their largest lead of the half at eight points at 37-29 with three minutes to play, but the Blue Raiders played tough defense down the stretch and scored the final six points of the half to cut the deficit to two at the break as Life led 37-35.
The Running Eagles won the first half rebounding battle 24-19, including grabbing nine offensive rebounds compared to Lindsey Wilson's four. Life only managed to turn those nine offensive rebounds into six second chance points.
D'on Hall and Tony Horne each went for 10 points in the opening half and Keshaun Mayfield added seven.
Lindsey Wilson shot 43 percent (12-28) from the floor in the first half and Life shot 39 percent (15-38). Both teams made three shots from beyond the arc, but the Running Eagles took six more attempts from deep than the Blue Raiders.
The second half saw Life continue to hold their lead, extending it to as many as 10 at the 61-51 mark with 9:56 to play. Lindsey Wilson hung in there despite the inconsistent play and was able to cut the lead down to four points at 69-65 with 4:37 to go.
But a pair of Blue Raider turnovers combined with back-to-back three pointers for the Running Eagles put them back up 10 with under three and half minutes to play.
Lindsey Wilson tried to claw their way closer but another three turnovers in the final 90 seconds helped seal their fate and give Life the 82-76 win.
The Running Eagles shot 47 percent (28-59) from the floor and 29 percent (6-21) from three. Both teams went 20-for-30 from the charity stripe as Life won the rebounding battle 40-31. Lindsey Wilson finished with 22 turnovers in the loss.
Hall finished with 18 points followed by Horne's 13. Mayfield finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Charles Sutton and Reco Lewis each finished with 10 points. Starting guard Bryan Wallace did not play in Sunday's contest due to an illness.
Caleb Hayes led the Running Eagles with 14 points followed by Allen Dantzler's 11. All 12 Life players that saw playing time scored in the win.
The Blue Raiders now head for Lebanon, Tenn., to take on Cumberland in the 2014-15 regular-season finale on Thursday, Feb. 26.
