The Bruins dropped another tough road game on Saturday night as the team fell to rival Pensacola Christian College 82-80 in Pensacola, Florida. With the loss, the Bruins have dropped four straight and sit at 8-11 on the season and 3-5 in South region play.
"We played hard tonight in a tough environment," Bruins interim head coach Tony Miller said. "In the end, we just didn't make enough plays down the stretch that we needed to get the win."
The Bruins came into the game on the heels of a loss on Thursday as the team couldn't slow Toccoa Falls late as the Screaming Eagles went on to win 85-76. The Bruins looked to bounce back as they traveled to Pensacola as the team looked to avenge an earlier-season loss to the Eagles.
The two teams last met on January 28 with the Eagles defeating the Bruins 64-56 to snap an 8-game losing streak against BJU. As the two teams took the court on Saturday night, the next chapter in this rivalry was set to be written.
In the opening minutes, the Bruins and Eagles traded baskets and the lead as neither was able to build a sizable advantage early on. Both defenses stood strong and forced the other to take tough looks which resulted in a lower scoring few minutes for both sides.
Near the midway point of the first half, Tostadas Pouncey knocked down a three to give the Bruins a 15-11 lead. Joshua Alexander came right back for the Eagles with back to back baskets as the two teams were tied 15-15.
The score continued to go back and forth throughout the close of the first half with each team gaining and then yielding the lead. With just under three minutes to play in the half, Liam Gerdts scored in the paint to make it 34-28. The Bruins were able to battle back in the final two minutes but trailed 40-39 going into halftime.
As the second half began, the Bruins came out strong as baskets from Henry Blair and Stephan Hugley helped the team jump out to a 49-42 lead. The Eagles answered back but the Bruins were able to maintain the upper hand pushing their lead to 58-48 after Trevor Brunson hit a three.
The Eagles regrouped and slowly began to chip away at the Bruins lead. AJ Ward hit back to back threes for PCC as they went on a to cut the lead to 69-66 with just over six minutes to play.
The two teams eventually knotted at 71-71 setting up an exciting finish in the final minutes. Henry Blair would hit a three for BJU as they took a 78-77 lead, but Liam Gerdts answered back with a basket to make it 79-78 PCC.
The Bruins looked to once again regain the lead but a shot came up short. The Eagles took advantage and found a wide open AJ Ward for a layup to make it 81-78 with just seconds to play. Stephan Hugley was fouled for the Bruins but his two free throws wouldn't be enough as the Bruins fell to the Eagles 82-80 in the game.
Henry Blair led the Bruins with 25 points while Stephan Hugley had a double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. The Bruins won the rebounding margin 32-28 and forced PCC into 15 turnovers but it wouldn't be enough as the team dropped another tough region loss.
Next up, the Bruins will return home as the team welcomes Warren Wilson College on Tuesday night in the Davis Field House.
