PULASKI, Tenn. – For the second time in as many games, Jeremy Rodgers was a dominant force down low as the senior scored 22 points and helped guide Martin Methodist to a 69-53 win over Life (Ga.) University Saturday afternoon.
Using his 6-foot-5, 253-pound frame to his advantage, Rodgers was an offensive factor from the opening tip for the RedHawks (11-9, 3-1 TranSouth), scoring every one of the team's first ten points as they quickly turned a 4-0 deficit into a 10-4 advantage early in the first half.
As the period continued, Rodgers began to become less of a factor offensively, as the Running Eagles (11-9, 3-2) began to whittle away at the RedHawks lead. After turning a seven-point deficit into a single-possession ballgame, the Running Eagles pulled within one at the half after a tip-in from Andrew Woods at the first-half buzzer as the RedHawks took a 27-26 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, however, Rodgers once again proved to be an offensive weapon for the RedHawks, scoring 12 of his game-high 22 points over the game's final 20 minutes, including three second-half and-one opportunities.
The RedHawks would have to survive a mid-half surge from the Running Eagles to preserve the lead, however. Leading 43-28 with 15:15 remaining in the ballgame, the RedHawks saw their 15-point lead evaporate in just over two minutes as the Running Eagles put together a 12-0 run to pull within three points at the 13:14 mark.
A turnaround jumper from Rodgers, however, would stem the tide and allow the RedHawks to regain their composure before closing the game on a 26-13 run to preserve their third straight TranSouth Athletic Conference victory and avenge their lone TSAC loss.
"Our guys came out and made big plays when we needed them most," RedHawks head coach Scott Combs said. "We were dialed in defensively yet again and we were able to get easy buckets at times as a result. We did not necessarily play our best game, but we got stops and scores when we needed to. This was another quality team win."
Saturday's performance was the second straight 20-plus point effort for Rodgers, who scored a career-high 27 points in an 84-71 over Mid-Continent (Ky.) University Thursday night. The Memphis, Tenn. native finished the game 10-of-16 from the floor, while also setting a career-high with 14 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. Rodgers also recorded 14 rebounds in a 74-70 win at Union last season.
"Jeremy continued to show why he is one of the best players in this league," Combs said. "His effort tonight was huge because it also opened up the floor for the rest of the guys. He battled through contact on a lot of his shots and found the bucket. I was proud of his effort down low."
Joining Rodgers in double figures were teammates Justin Blake and Josh Watson, who added 18 and 11 points each. Blake, who scored 11 of his 18 in the second half, was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Watson, meanwhile, tracked down 10 rebounds to record his second double-double of the season. Watson's other double-double also came against Life as part of a near triple-double performance in the club's loss on Jan. 7.
Antonio Coleman added nine rebounds off the bench for the RedHawks, who turned a 22-17 halftime rebound deficit into a 49-41 rebound advantage by the end of the game.
The RedHawks were also efficient with their passing, posting a season-high 17 assists – ten of which came in the second half.
Defensively, the RedHawks held the Eagles to a 22-of-64 effort from the floor and just a 1-of-8 performance from beyond the arc. As a team, the RedHawks forced 17 turnovers, 11 of which were steals.
Ramon Walker and Woods finished with 12 and 10 points each to lead the Running Eagles, who dropped their second TSAC contest in their last three league matches.
The win lifted the RedHawks to sole possession of second place in the TSAC, trailing only No. 12 Bethel University, who travels to Pulaski next Thursday. The win also matches the longest winning streak of the season for the RedHawks, who won their final three games in the month of November. The RedHawks improved to 2-1 in the Curry Christian Life Center this season after playing their first home game since a 75-28 win over Oakwood (Ala.) College on Nov. 29.
The RedHawks return to action Monday night for their second game of an eight-game homestand when they host Fisk University, a squad the RedHawks defeated 79-69 in their season opener. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. in the CLC.
