Saints Avenge November Loss with Victory over Eutectics in Moberly

After suffering a 98-92 loss to the Eutectics in St. Louis in November, the Central Christian College of the Bible (6-7) invited the UHSP team to Moberly, Mo., on Saturday in hopes of a different outcome. Ultimately, the CCCB Saints were able to undo the Eutectics 107-100 in their second meeting of the season.

The Eutectics started out with confidence, with back-to-back buckets from Moctar Keita to allow UHSP a 15-8 lead after five minutes. The Saints, however, went on a 12-3 run over three minutes to take over the lead at 25-24 at 10:26. The Eutectics did their best to fight them off, trading the lead for a time. The score was tied at 40 with six minutes left in the half. That's when the Saints grabbed hold of the momentum to drop in 19 points to the Eutectic nine before the buzzer sounded. At intermission, the Eutectics found themselves with a 10-point deficit at 59-49.

The Purple and Gold made up the difference early in the second half, after a couple of steals by Landon Engelage and three triples in a row from Jas Suvalija (2) and Brady Bowers tied up the score at 61 apiece three minutes in. Engelage rode the momentum with two threes, a rebound, and another steal to push the Euts ahead 73-70 at 13:26. The Saints, however, continued to challenge the Euts, tying the score at 76 off a put-back from Raheem Brizendine, then scored the next six points to go up 82-76 with less that 10 minutes left in the game. A steal by Jas Suvalija set up a Brady Bowers three to tie the game again at 82. With five minutes left, a bucket from Sean Paradise, Jr., tied the score at 93, but the Saints followed that up with a bucket from Brizendine and a triple from Chris Woods to take a lead that they would not give up. CCCB ultimately claimed the win at 107-100.

The Saints outrebounded the Eutectics 44-34 and forced 16 turnovers from UHSP, giving up only 10.       

Engelage went 5-for-9 from the arc, 10-for-15 from the floor, and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe to finish the game with 29 points to go along with his nine rebounds, four steals, and four assists. Bowers (19), Braylon Rios (13), Paradise, Jr. (13), and Keita (11) all reached double figures in scoring. Bowers also pitched in seven assists. Suvalija (9), Kyan Arrandale (4), and RJ Steckler (2) pitched in the remaining UHSP points.

Brizendine was the high scorer for the Saints, racking up 31 points and seven rebounds.

The loss knocks the Eutectic record to 1-9 for the season so far. The Euts will be back in action on Monday, Dec. 18, when they travel to Rolla, Mo., to take on Missouri S & T for an exhibition game at 11 a.m.