GOODWELL, Okla. — Men's basketball team fought against the Southwest Christian University Eagles on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately fell 56-52 in a tightly contested matchup.
First Half Recap
The Aggies found themselves in a back-and-forth battle early in the game. At the 8:27 mark, Abdulh Diaby sank a free throw to bring the Aggies within two points, 20-18. However, the Eagles kept their poise and took a 30-24 lead into halftime. Despite struggling offensively in the first half, they shot 28.57% from the field and missed all six of their three-point attempts.
Second Half Recap
. At 8:56 in the second half, Diaby hit back-to-back free throws to tie the game at 40-40, marking the Aggies' first chance to draw level since early. Unfortunately, the Eagles capitalized on key opportunities down the stretch to pull ahead and seal the 56-52 victory.
The Aggies improved their shooting efficiency in the second half, hitting 39.29% of their shots, but they continued to struggle from beyond the arc, finishing the game 0-for-13 on three-point attempts. Free-throw shooting proved challenging, as the team converted just 50% (14-of-28) from the line.
By the Numbers
- Amaree Brown led the Aggies with 13 points, shooting 5-of-12 from the field and grabbing five rebounds.
- Mike Carter contributed 10 points and four rebounds in 18 minutes of play.
- Kyle Belgrave II dominated the glass with ten rebounds and added 8 points.
- The Aggies won the rebounding battle 49-37, including a 14-6 edge on the offensive boards, leading to 11 second-chance points.
- Abdulh Diaby significantly impacted with six points, five rebounds, and a season-high five blocks.
Game Notes
- The Aggies held the Eagles to 32.2% shooting from the field and 25% from three-point range, showcasing their defensive tenacity.
- Bench scoring played a significant role in reserves, contributing 25 points compared to just two from the Eagles.
- The Aggies' inability to convert on three-point attempts (0-13) and missed opportunities at the free-throw line proved costly.
Head coach
Charles Belt mentioned after the game "The hardest thing in sports isn't winning it's constantly getting yourself off the mat when you lose a ton of close games. You begin to believe that "if it can go wrong… it will go wrong" I believe we have good players, but shooting 33% from the field, 0% from 3pt and 50% from the FT line on 28 attempts is a recipe for losing. It's just worse when you lose by tight margins.
My job as a coach is to find a way to get us up off the mat, find some confidence, and belief."
Looking Ahead
The Aggies will look to bounce back when they travel to face Texas Wesleyan University on Saturday, December 14, in Fort Worth, Texas.
