Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist University Eagles' men's basketball team; whom are currently receiving votes in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll fell on Friday afternoon to Southwestern Christian University by a final of 88-66, inside a crowded Puckett Field House on Elementary Day.
With the loss, the Eagles fall to 7-4 overall, while Southwestern Christian University improves to 7-4 with the victory.
Southwestern Christian and Central Methodist opened the season against one another in Bethany, Oklahoma back on November 4th, with CMU coming out victorious 73-62. Friday was a totally different story. Southwestern Christian began the game by outscoring Central 14-0 in the first five and a half minutes. CMU got on the board with 14:23 remaining in the first half on a Charles Harris III (SR/Antioch, Ill.) jumper. The Eagles from Southwestern Christian controlled the tempo the rest of the first half and took a 46-28 lead into halftime. In the first half, Central shot just 11-of-32 from the field and 4-of-14 from beyond the three-point arc; while also attempting just three free-throws. Southwestern Christian shot 15-for-32 from the floor and shot a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.
In the second half, Central drove to the bucket more and converted on 19-of-23 free-throw attempts, however CMU could not dig themselves out of the hole they put themselves in at halftime. Central shot just 1-of-13 from beyond the three-point arc in the second half, and just 9-of-31 from the field. Southwestern Christian continued to shoot the ball well from the field, finishing the second half 14-for-32 from the field, as they outscored CMU 42-38, to claim the 88-66 victory.
In the loss, Central had every one of their active players get into the game, with three players finishing in double-figures scoring. Both Bo Burkhart (JR/Evansville, Ind.) and Cole Adair (SR/Fishers, Ind.) led the Eagles with 15 points apiece. Charles Harris III also finished with 11 points and tied with Burkhart and Adair for the team lead with six rebounds apiece.
The Eagles return to action following the Christmas break, to host Friends University on Friday December 30th at 6pm inside of Puckett Field House.
For more information about Central Methodist University athletics, visit http://www.cmueagles.com. Follow CMU athletics on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cmathletics and on Twitter twitter.com/cmueagles.
