Game Recap:
The Eagles men's basketball team returned to winning ways in the Nest on Saturday night, posting a statement 102-93 victory over NCCAA opponent Southwestern Adventist University.
The Eagles came out blazing with an 8-0 start, forcing the Knights to burn an early timeout just a minute and a half into the contest. SWAU answered quickly with an 8-3 run to close the gap, and the game settled into a rhythm of traded buckets, fouls, and turnovers that kept the energy high. Liam Gerdts worked efficiently in the paint, shooting 7/12 from the field and powering the Eagles' interior offense with several hard-fought finishes down low.
The story of the half, however, was Josh Azucena. The senior guard delivered an outstanding performance in limited minutes, going a perfect 8/8 from the field, 3/3 from beyond the arc, and 2/2 from the FT line before exiting late in the first half with a lower leg injury. Azucena closed his night with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 17 minutes of play. Despite two unanswered threes from SWAU to close the half, the Eagles took a 56-48 lead into the break.
Out of halftime, the Eagles surged to a 10-2 run that once again forced an early SWAU timeout. The Knights focused on crowding the paint throughout the second half, but the Eagles countered with hot perimeter shooting, knocking down 55% of their attempts from deep. Gerdts (3/5), Pack (2/3), and Stickles (1/1) all contributed from beyond the arc, while Raul Bertinato added an efficient 6/7 shooting performance to round out a dominant offensive display.
In the end, the Eagles' scoring balance and relentless tempo proved too much for the Knights to contain, sealing a 9-point bounce-back win inside the Nest.
What's Next:
Next up, the Eagles head to Keene, Texas, for a rematch against SWAU on their home court, followed by a matchup with Arlington Baptist to close out the Texas road trip. The team will return home on November 15 for a 6:00 PM showdown against Williams Baptist University.
Stay updated on the Eagles' season by following @eaglespccmbb on Instagram. For full coverage of all PCC Eagles teams, events, and schedules, follow @eaglespcc on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram.
