Graceville, FL – The Baptist University of Florida (BUF) Eagles played their first home game of the season on Thursday, November 6, at the Eagles Nest.
Game 1: Eagles Face University of Fort Lauderdale
BUF faced a tough test against the University of Fort Lauderdale (UFL). The Eagles were shorthanded due to an injury, forcing them to start a lineup consisting of four guards and one wing. UFL had recently played in the Skinner Classic and had won their game by 43 points against a school BUF had defeated by 7.
The Eagles came out strong, holding the deficit to just five points, 23-18, ten minutes into the game. However, UFL went on a run to push the lead to 15 by halftime. Seven minutes into the second half, UFL extended their advantage to 25 points.
The Eagles refused to quit. Oliver Pratt, Joshua Good, and Isaiah Bundrage sparked a key BUF run. After cutting the deficit to 19, Pratt drew a charge, then assisted Good for a nice finishing layup. Good immediately followed this by deflecting a pass and securing a steal. BUF pushed the ball to Donte Hubert-Bonner, who passed it to Bundrage for a clutch three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 14.
On the next possession, Good made another steal and passed it to Hubert-Bonner, who drove to the basket, drew a foul, and hit both free throws, cutting the lead to 12. For the third possession in a row, Good notched a steal. Bundrage hit a free throw to bring the score to 58-69, an 11-point difference. With seven minutes remaining, BUF had two possessions with a chance to cut the lead to single digits. This, unfortunately, ended the comeback attempt, as UFL finished the game on a 26-6 run to secure the 95-66 win.
A bright spot for the Eagles was Jordan Isaac, who led all scorers with 20 points, but the undermanned team was ultimately outmatched in the contest.
Game 2: BUF Bounces Back Against Webber International
On Saturday, November 8, BUF hosted Webber International University (WIU) for their second home game. Based on their strong play on Thursday, Good, Pratt, and Bundrage all earned spots in the starting lineup.
Three minutes into the game, the teams were tied 7-7 following a Bundrage three-pointer. WIU then took control with a significant 30-4 run. By halftime, the score was 55-32 in favor of WIU, and they pushed the lead to 30 points in the second half, 94-64.
Omari Henry found his rhythm in the second half, scoring 17 of his game-high 24 points after the break. Determined to avoid a poor finish like the last game, the Eagles closed the contest on a 24-7 run, winning the second half by 10 points (56-46). However, they lost the game 101-88.
Key Performances:
- Thomas Curlee recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
- CJ McKinnley finished with 16 points and 8 assists.
BUF is not far from putting it all together. Currently, Henry, Pratt, Isaac, McKinley, and Good are shooting over 80% from the free-throw line this season, and the team is averaging 80 points a game. The Eagles will get a chance for revenge when they see the Webber team again on November 22 at their gym.
Watch the Eagles Live:
Catch all the action from home! The Eagles will live stream their next home game of the season Tuesday, December 2, at 6:00 p.m. You can stream every home game this season by signing up at bufeagles.com/livestream. For away games, check our BUF athletics pages for links when available.
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