MARIETTA, Ga. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's basketball stepped back into Southern States Athletic Conference play, after an empty six-day schedule, facing Life University on Saturday. The Firehawks trailed by three with less than 10 seconds left and fell to the Runnin' Eagles 80-78. This concludes the 2024 half of the Firehawk schedule.
Four Firehawks scored in double figures with Zaiden Cross leading all scorers, in his debut, with 21 points. Mark Vance added 20 points, Vito Vujovic contributed 11, and Mike Bell, Jr. tossed in 10. The Firehawks got out to an early 9-4 lead on buckets by Bell, Jr., Vance, Cross, and Vujovic. Life battled back tying the game at 11. UTS would lead 31-28 with six minutes left, but an LU 16-7 run had the Firehawks trailing at the half 44-38. UTS outshot the Runnin' Eagles 14-28 (50%) to 16-33 (49%) and out rebounded Life 14-13. The Firehawks were led in scoring Bell, Jr. with three field goals in the half resulting in eight points. Vujovic and Cross each added seven points at the break.
In the second half, UTS found themselves down by their largest deficit in the game trailing by 15 points with 14 minutes remaining. The Firehawks kept chipping away at the home team's lead and closed in to trail 76-75 with a minute and a half left. The 32-17 run consisted of 12 points from Cross, 10 points from Vance, four from Vujovic, three from Bradin Nelson, and two by Ryan Dunn.
The Firehawks had three chances down the stretch and shaved the lead down to two with three seconds left. After Eric Robinson's first successful free throw, LU corralled the final rebound to escape the Firehawk comeback.
BY THE NUMBERS
52.7 – The Firehawks out shot the Runnin' Eagles 52.7% to 50%. UTS made 29-55 while Life went 30-60.
9 – UTS and Life both connected on nine trifectas.
91.7 – UTS took advantage of each trip to the free-throw line, making 11 of 12 trips.
31 – The Firehawks out rebounded Life 31-30.
17 – UT Southern and Life tallied 17 assists each.
11 – The Firehawks picked up 11 points on second chance points, four more than Life.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will return to action on January 2^nd hosting rival Bethel. Tipoff is set for five p.m. The Firehawks fell to the Wildcats 77-74 last week in McKenzie.
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