Eagles Suffer Tough Loss on the Road at CIU

Columbia, SC - As the 2022-23 season comes to the final weeks, every game is important and there is little room for error. The standings in the AAC are extremely tight with teams in the 2nd to seventh position. Any of the teams that fall into this category can either win or lose and move up or drop down several spots.  The Eagles did not help their cause to stay in the top three of the league as they would lose to a CIU team that had only one loss to Union at home.  Reinhardt would be on the losing in of the road game to CIU, 68 to 62.

Jalin Wimberly led all scores, as he had done numerous times this season, with 17 points and he led the team in rebounds with 6 total. He was joined in double-figure scoring by point guard Greg Hobbs who had 11 points. Hobbs also had 4 rebounds and 2 steals in the game. This is Hobbs second game in a row scoring in double-figures.

Tafari Thomas and Brandon Barron were just on the outside of double-figures with eight points each. Barron continues to be a spark off the bench backing up Hobbs for Coach Newton.

The game with CIU was a little different than many games of the Eagles this season. It was tight from start to finish with the Eagles having the largest lead at five points in the first half, however, most of the time it was within one to three points with both teams trading leads. The Eagles would enjoy a slight 29-24 lead at the half.

The second half would play out the same as the first half with both teams trading leads and the score staying within three to five points of each other until the final minutes of the game. The Rams of CIU were able to take the final lead with about four minutes left in the game and they would not let go of it. The Eagles continued to battle their way back, but CIU was able to keep pace and keep the narrow five-point lead. The final lead was six points on a pair of free throws by CIU - 68-62 final score.

It is a tough loss to swallow but at this point of the season, each team battling for one of those top spots has to do everything possible to secure wins. The Eagles have had chances to win the past two games, however, they have come up short in both and this has temporarily moved them back to fourth position. 

The Eagles have this weekend off, which could be good for the team to rest and regroup for the final two games. The last two games are the following week with a home game against Kentucky Christian on Tuesday, February 14th and then the final game of the regular season will be with Tennessee Wesleyan on the road. Two wins next week could put the Eagles back in the second spot depending on how the other teams play in the final week. Union is the only team that has secured its spot in the AAC and will be one of the teams representing the AAC in the NAIA National Tournament.