Mens Basketball
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Champion MBB Breaks 100 In Rout Of Spurgeon

Hot Springs, Ark.

On a day seemingly made for basketball, those who braved the rain and were able to make it to the Champion Community Center were treated to quite the show in the Champion Christian College Tigers vs Spurgeon College Knights game. The Tigers had their most balanced scoring night of the year, with 6 players scoring double digits, and finished the game shooting nearly 50% from the field. The final score was 102-71.

The final score may come as a surprise if you turned the game off in the first half, because Spurgeon fought tooth and nail with the Tigers well into the first half, even taking a 2 point lead with 10 minutes left in the first half, at a score of 19-17. That would end up being the biggest lead of the night for the Knights, and it wouldn't last long, as the Tigers woke up on the defensive end. A steal, 2 point jumper by Kyle Malone, followed by a beautiful pass to Keyshaun Scott for a fast break layup, a charge taken by AJ Jenkins, and then free throws from the newest Tiger KJ Corder stretched the lead to 6 and the Tigers never looked back.

The Tigers would end the half on fire, getting to the rim and scoring with ease and finishing the half with 48 points. The Tigers shot 47% from the field, and 30% for 3, but defense was the calling card, holding Spurgeon to just 30 points in the first half, shooting 31% from the field and 29% for 3.

The second half would get off to a hot start with a 3 from Zo Capaci, and the flood gates would open up for the rest of the Tigers. AJ Williams would hit the next 3 two possessions later, following it up with a beautiful dime to Braylon Hawkins for a layup, and then Zo Capaci and Kyle Malone both get a steal and score, going on a 14-0 run bumping the lead to 26.

The Tigers would never see their lead dropping under 25 the rest of game, and the lead got as high as 35. KJ Harris would cap off the night with 5 straight points, hitting a tough inside hand layup and then the 3 pointer to give the Tigers 102 points, their highest scoring outing of the season. The Tigers ended the second half with 54 points, shooting 51% from the field and 40% for 3. The defense again was solid, holding Spurgeon to 41 in the half, shooting just 10% for 3 in the half.

With a final score of 102-71, the Tigers would set their season high in points and win margin, and it was done with contributions from everyone.

Some notable performances from tonight's game:

Ariyon Williams: 18 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 monster block. He shot 7/13 from the field and 3/8 for 3.

Braylon Hawkins: 16 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists. He shot 6/13 from the field and 2/4 for 3. He also was tasked with guarding Spurgeon's leading scorer, holding him under all his season averages.

Kyle Malone: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. 

Zo Capaci: 13 points on 4/8 from the field and 3/7 for 3.

Keyshaun Scott: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and had a perfect game, shooting 5/5 from the field, 2/2 from the charity stripe, and 0 turnovers.

KJ Corder: 11 points, 4 rebounds. He shot 4/5 from the field and 3/4 from the free throw line in his first game with the Tigers in his hometown of Hot Springs.