Eutectics Hunt Down Falcons in Final Seconds

ST. LOUIS, MO. – The Eutectic men's basketball team hosted the Kansas Christian College Falcons (3-4) from Overland Park on Saturday afternoon for the two teams' first-ever meeting. After trailing the Falcons throughout the game, the Eutectics slowly chased down the Falcons and overtook them for the 82-81 victory in the final four seconds.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 82, KANSAS CHRISTIAN 81

• The Eutectics struggled to keep up with the Falcons early, falling behind 21-6 eight minutes in. But, in the next four minutes, the Purple and Gold took advantage of several KCC turnovers and fouls to put together a 10-point scoring run and get themselves within reach of KCC at 21-16.  
• Led by Landon Engelage's 10 points in the first half, the Eutectics trailed 42-35 at the half.
• The UHSP team fell behind by as much as 51-38 early in the second half. But, then the shots started to fall. After a dismal 2-for-12 showing from three-point range in the first half, the Eutectics went 5-for-5 from the arc in the second half, chasing down the Falcons with each bucket.
• With 10 minutes to go, Davis Moore drained a triple off an assist from Brennen Walker to put the Eutectics within five points at 62-57. The Euts followed that up with a layup from Bryan Odunayo, a jumper from Walker, and a layup from Justin Coleman to take their first lead of the game at 63-62 with 7:50 left on the clock.
• Despite one of their eight players fouling out, the Falcons fought off the challenge, quickly retaking the lead and holding a slight edge over the Eutectics through the next five minutes. At 2:11, another Coleman layup gave the home team its second lead of the night at 76-75.
• Leading scorer Damon Werts immediately followed up with his 36^th point of the game off a put-back to regain the KCC edge, and the visitors went on to score the next four points to go up 81-76 with 1:20 left.
• After Coleman made the first of two free throws, Engelage swooped in for the offensive rebound off the second free throw miss to convert an and-one and put the Euts within one point, 81-80 with a minute left.
• In the final six seconds, Odunayo stole the ball from Werts, setting up Coleman for the layup to give the Euts an 82-81 lead that would hold for the final 1.8 seconds of the game.
• Landon Engelage scored 25 points to lead the Eutectics, adding in six rebounds. Justin Coleman finished with 15 points and tallied eight rebounds, Bryant Odunayo scored 14 points and four assists, and Jasmin Suvalija dropped in 10 points. Brennan Walker (8), Donovan Elmore (4), Carmello Bostwick (3), and David Moore (3) also scored for the Eutectics.
• Damon Werts led the Falcons with 36 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
• The Eutectics recovered from their first-half struggles, scoring 47 points in the second half and finishing the game shooting 45.3% from the floor (KCC was 48.8%) and 41.2% from the arc (7-for-17) as KCC was 36.8%.  

NEXT UP:

The win over KCC puts the Eutectics at 2-5 overall so far this season. They will continue with non-Conference play as they take to the road on Tuesday to visit Oakland City, Ind., for a 6:00pm matchup with the Mighty Oaks of Oakland City University (0-4).