Box Score
It was a tough start to the new year as the Bruins fell to Keiser University 113-72 in West Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday night. The Seahawks hit 19 three pointers on the night as five players scored in double figures for the team. The game was the first of three in Florida for the Bruins on this road trip.
"A team's identity and win/loss record can always be tied back to defense," Bruins Head Coach Burton Uwarow said. "Defense requires all the things that make a relationship work. It requires sacrifice, communication and a refusal to quit and we didn't show that tonight."
The Bruins showed some rust in this one after the team had been off over the holiday break. The Seahawks jumped out to a 10-0 run from the opening tip and stretched the lead to 20-5 just under four minutes into the game. The Bruins welcomed back Quez Fisher to the lineup as the big man finished with 7 points and 6 rebounds in the game.
With just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half, Trystan Pratapas scored in the paint to increase the Seahawk lead 30-7. The Bruins began to chip away at the lead as Justin Matthews and Nate Ellenwood drove through the lane for points. Dustin Killough also helped the Bruins close the gap with three first half three pointers but the team still trailed by a wide margin at the half with the score 59-39.
In the second half, the Bruins came out strong with a run as they cut into the lead. After a pair of free throws by Nate Ellenwood, the Bruins trailed 61-47 and were within striking distance. The Seahawks responded as the team caught fire from behind the arc shooting 66% from three point range in the second half. The Bruins couldn't seem to find a response offensively as Keiser continued to stretch the lead. Despite flashes of brilliance in the second half, the Bruins couldn't claw their way back into the game as they fell 113-72.
"It needs to hurt when we get scored on and right now it doesn't hurt," Coach Uwarow said. "We need to dramatically get better between now and Friday as we head into region play. I really hope we look back at this game as the turning point in our season."
Nate Ellenwood led the Bruins with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists while Dustin Killough finished the night with 20 points. Justin Matthews was the only other Bruins in double figures with 13 points as the team falls to 4-9 on the season.
Next up, the Bruins will be on the road again this weekend as the team plays their first region games of the 2017-18 season. On Friday, the Bruins will battle Trinity Baptist College in Jacksonville, Florida.
