Box Score
The Bob Jones University Bruins ended their 7-game losing streak in dramatic fashion on Friday night as the team battled for a 72-69 win over Florida College on the road in Tampa, Florida. Quez Fisher led the Bruins with 27 points while Justin Matthews scored 16 points in the win.
"I'm really proud of these guys for overcoming a lot of obstacles and beating a quality opponent on their home floor," Bruins Head Coach Neal Ring said. "This was a team win starting on the defensive side of the ball and Coach Wingreen had a great defensive game plan. Thankful for the blessing of a win for these guys and I'm so happy for them."
The Bruins came into the game on Friday night after suffering a heartbreaking loss on Thursday night in a last-second thriller to Trinity College. Still, the Bruins took the court against the Falcons looking to end their road trip with a win.
Quez Fisher played a dominant game in the post for the Bruins as the big man orchestrated the offense by scoring points and freeing up shooters from the outside. But the Falcons used the home court to their advantage as they knocked down back to back three's to take a 12-11 lead early on. Fisher provided another spark as he hammered home a dunk to beat the shot clock. Still, the Bruins trailed 30-24. Refusing to back down, the Bruins forced the Falcons into tough looks on offense, but several missed rebounding opportunities allowed Florida College second chance points to give them a 39-30 lead at the half.
In the second half, the Bruins came out fired up after another Fisher slam brought the bench to its feet. Marshall Riddle and Justin Matthews each knocked down three point bombs as the Bruins climbed back to within striking distance 43-40. But the Falcons continued to capitalize on the offensive glass as they extended possessions and kept the lead.
With under two minutes to go, the Bruins had climbed all the way back to tie the game at 69-67. A key basket gave the team the tie and a good defensive stand gave the Bruins one last shot for the win. With under 10 seconds remaining, Nate Ellenwood fed the ball to Quez Fisher who buried the shot and was fouled on the play. After walking to the free throw line, Fisher was iced two different times by timeouts from the Falcons. Returning to the game, Fisher calmly approached the line and made the shot securing the 72-69 win.
"I knew I had to go up strong with it and finish," Fisher said. "After they iced me the first time I was thinking more about the free throw but the second timeout I just got more motivating to come out and get the win for us."
Fisher was the game leader scoring 27 points on 13 of 16 shooting from the floor (81%). He also added 6 rebounds in the win. Justin Matthews was deadly from the outside for the team as he scored 16 points on 3 of 4 shooting from behind the arc. Matthews was also a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line. With the win, the Bruins improve to 3-14 on the season. The win marks the first for the team since the win over Toccoa Falls College on November 21.
Next up, the Bruins will play another road game on Monday night as they travel to Montreat, North Carolina for a matchup with Montreat College.
