Eutectics Fall to Defending AMC Champs CBC on the Road

CONWAY, ARK. - The Eutectic men's basketball team finished off a two-game American Midwest Conference series in Arkansas with an 89-73 loss at Central Baptist College in Conway on Saturday afternoon. Despite a strong start and finish, the Eutectics fell behind in the first half and could not make up the difference before time ran out against the defending Conference champs (now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the AMC).

The UHSP team pulled ahead early, taking a five-point lead of 11-6 following a triple from Landon Engelage after five minutes of play. But, CBC closed the gap and pulled ahead with a jump shot and two layups to go up 12-11 – a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the game. Up 23-17 with seven minutes left in the half, the Mustangs took advantage of three Eutectic turnovers to score nine points in a row. The Euts scored the next eight points after a timeout to get within seven at 32-25, but were unable to completely close the gap and finished the first half down 41-29 after 16 turnovers and 15 fewer shot attempts than the home team.

When the Mustangs extended their lead with back-to-back layups to start the second half, the Eutectics tightened up their ball handling to allow fewer turnovers and match the CBC pace to get three more shots than the home team off in the second half. But, with the first-half deficit and the Mustangs' second-period 57% shooting from the floor, the UHSP efforts were not enough. Despite tacking on an additional 15 points to their first half total, the Eutectics could not catch the CBC team as time ran out.

Brock Davis led the Eutectic team in scoring with 15 points and Landon Engelage pulled down nine boards. Bryant Odunayo had a strong second half to tally 14 points overall, while Jasmin Suvalija also scored in double figures with 10 points. Ahian Barnett (8), Dwight Newsome (7), Moctar Keita (6), Sean Paradise Jr. (6), Engelage (5), and Yigit Ekinci (2) also scored for the Eutectics.

Hykeem Hancock scored 25 points with seven rebounds to lead the Mustangs.

The Eutectics, now 5-2 overall and 0-2 in the AMC, will take a break from Conference competition. They are scheduled for one non-conference game, hosting Avila University (Kan.) on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. in the UHSP gymnasium before the Thanksgiving break.