Prescott, AZ - The Hope International Mens Basketball Team (22-5, 10-3 GSAC) fell to the Eagles of Embry Riddle University ( 11-14, 6-6 GSAC) Saturday afternoon in Prescott, AZ.
The Royals started off hot in the first quarter. A made three point shot by Nick Hopkins gave the Royals an early lead in the game. The Royals managed to keep their lead for the next ten minutes of play. The next couple of points for the Royals all came from the free throw line. Aaron Wadman and Nick Hopkins rallied together to make 6 free throws early in the game giving the Royals a four point lead with 15:13 remaining before the half. Following these free throw, Senior Josh Hardiman scored a layup which helped the Royals keep their lead. The Eagles made it clear that they were not going to let this game be an easy one. Following Hardiman's layup, the Eagles went on a short run of their own tying the game with 14:06 left before the half. With the game tied at 13-13, Allen Wright subs in for the Royals looking to give them a spark off the bench. Wright hits a mid range jump shot giving the Royals the lead once again. The Eagles began to break through the Royals defense and eventually gained the lead with less than ten minuets remaining in the half. Efforts at the free throw line by CJ Fisher and a made layup by Josh Hardiman gave the Royals the lead once again. The teams began trading baskets, making it clear that this game would go down to the wire. With five minuets remaining and the Royals uo two, Senior Jonah Felix enters the game and hits a shot behind the arc assisted by Cameron Dashiell gave the Royals a five point lead. The Eagles were once again able to break through the Royals defense tying the game with 3:12 remaining. With the clock counting down and the Royals now down three, Nick Hopkins and Allen Wright Rally together to score four points putting the Royals up one with 30 seconds remaining. Last second free throws by the Eagles gave them the one point lead going into the half. 34-35, Royals down one.
With the Second half underway and the Royals looking to turn the game around, Josh Hardiman makes a layup within the first 20 seconds which gave the Royals a spork of energy. The Eagles continued to make efforts to regain the lead but a made three point shot by Grant Sii helped the Royals keep their lead. With 14:21 remaining, Nick Hopkins went on to make two back to back layups. The Eagles managed to come back within one point of the Royals. Hopkins then went on to score four more points keeping the Royals in the game. With the time continuing to count down and the Eagles making it known that they are here to defend their home court on senior night, they managed to take the lead with 7:30 remaining. The Royals had an answer to the Eagles efforts, Jonah Felix hit his second 3 of the game, bringing the score to 58-58 with 7:30 remaining. Felix and Sii came together to score the next five points for the Royals. Now with less than two minutes remaining in the game, the Royals are now looking for free throws to put them back in the lead. A made free throw by Nick Hopkins and Aaron Wadman gave the Royals a two point lead. Two late fouls by the Royals sent the Eagles to the line giving them the opportunity to take the lead. Now down one, Senior guard, Grant Sii scored a layup with 19 seconds remaining. Despite Sii's efforts and strong defense by the Royals, the Eagles managed to get a shot off with less than one second remaining. With the made shot at the buzzer, the Royals fell to the Eagles 69-71.
The Royals will look to wrap up conference play on the road against The Mustangs of The Masters University Thursday February, 20th in Santa Clarita, CA at 5:30 PM.
