LAKE WALES, Fla. - The Warner University men’s basketball team returned to action on Saturday, December 14 in the Turner Athletic Center, as they welcomed the visiting University of Saint Francis Cougars (Ind.). Saint Francis entered the game with an impressive 10-3 mark on the season and ranked No. 16 in the latest NAIA Men’s Basketball Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll. The Royals, who are receiving votes nationally, came into the contest at 6-3. The two teams battled for 40 minutes and ended with the Royals coming out victorious 73-66.
The Royals came out firing on all cylinders and jumped out to a 16-6 lead in the first half. Senior guard Mitch Rice had the first six points in the game, hitting two consecutive shots from behind the arc. Frederick Conner and Keevis Tukes also added triples of their own.
The Cougars went on a run of their own, knocking down 10 points to tie the game up at 16. The Royals went into the locker room with a 35-31 lead, holding the visiting Cougars to 36% shooting from the field. Conner ended the half going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, where he has consistently contributed all season long.
The second half was a back and forth battle, with each team exchanging blows. Keagan Comer came out hot, totaling nine points in the second half for the Cougars, most in the first few minutes of play. Austin Fox had a monster second half for the Cougars with 16 points. Fox finished with a double-double, a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds.
However, Coach Hanrahan’s team responded to each blow from the Cougars, as he got solid minutes from his bench, as eight players played double-digit minutes. With less than two minutes remaining, Spencer Comer made a layup to put the Cougars up three, Eddie Delegal responded with a jumper of his own to pull within one. After a missed shot by the Cougars with less than one minute to go, Jason Pospichal hit what was the biggest shot of the game, a transition 3-pointer, to put the Royals up two, and they never looked back.
Frederick Conner lead the charge with 18 points, but the story of the game was the productive play from Eddie Delegal. Delegal, the sophomore transfer from Middle Georgia had 14 points and three rebounds in 20 minutes of play in his season debut. Freshman Josh Ellis also added 10 points of his own.
In their next contest, the Royals will take on Fisher College (Mass.) on Friday, December 20 at 7 pm, in the Turner Athletic Center.