Even a tough atmosphere couldn't slow the Bruins basketball team on Saturday afternoon as the Bruins defeated rival Pensacola Christian College 73-59 in Pensacola, Florida. Five players scored in double figures on the night as the Bruins improve to 7-16 overall and 6-1 in region play.
"We didn't finish the game how we wanted but this is still a good road win for us," Bruins Head Coach Burton Uwarow said. "We're really coming together at this point in the season as we head towards the regional tournament."
The two teams met earlier in the 2018-19 season with the Bruins winning 72-54 in Greenville, South Carolina. The Bruins came into the game on the heels of a tough loss on Tuesday night as they fell 76-75 to Carolina Christian College. They knew they would be in for another tough test as the fans were out in full voice at the Arlin R. Horton Sports Center Arena awaiting the next chapter in this great rivalry.
The Bruins stormed out of the gate as baskets by Quiyante Burroughs, Zac Orr and Jon Allen fueled a 6-0 run. The Eagles regrouped and went on a run of their own as they charged back to take an 11-10 lead.
Daniel Fuller scored back to back baskets to help the Bruins go on another run as they regained the lead and pushed that lead to 21-13. They didn't let up as freshman Blake Coleman hit a three to further extend the lead at the halfway point of the first half.
The Eagles began to slowly chip away at the lead thanks to 11 first-half points by Ian Johnson. The Eagles clawed back to within five but Jayson Barnhart helped the Bruins close out the first half on a run to lead 39-30 at halftime.
In the second half, Daniel Fuller hit a three to open the scoring for the Bruins while Zac Orr continued to dominate the paint with back to back baskets as the Bruins led 46-33. The Bruins continued to attack the rim which opened up open looks and back door cuts to the basket. Still, the Eagles stayed within striking distance.
With just over eight minutes remaining, Stone Champion hit a three for the Bruins to push the lead to 57-43. From there, the Bruins kept the Eagles at a distance as baskets by PCC were answered by BJU on each possession.
Andrew Thomas tried to spark a late-run by the Eagles with back to back and-one baskets, but the Bruins had other plans as they made their free throws down the stretch to come away with a 73-59 win.
"We did a lot of things right tonight," Coach Uwarow said. "We out rebounded them and had two guys who combined for nearly 30 rebounds. I'm proud of these guys for playing the way they did in this environment to get this win."
Daniel Fuller led the Bruins with 17 points while Jon Allen and Zac Orr each had a double-double in the game. Orr finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Allen finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Quiyante Burroughs and Jayson Barnhart also finished with double-figures in scoring as Burroughs had 11 and Barnhart finished with 15.
The Bruins limited the Eagles offensively as PCC shot just 21% from three-point range. The Bruins also had the upper hand in rebounding as they controlled the margin 50-37. Next up, the Bruins will return home for their final game of the regular season. The team will welcome Johnson University of Florida on Saturday to the Davis Field House with the tip-off set for 2 p.m.
