Eagles Fall to Pensacola Christian in Season Opener

PENSACOLA, Fla. (10/29/24) – The Williams Baptist men's basketball team fell 69-67 in its first contest of the 2024-25 season against Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Fla. on Tuesday night.

DJ Townsend led the Eagles with 15 points on 6-for-15 shooting on the night.  Rico Quinton followed with 14 on 7-for-10 while leading the team in rebounds with eight.  Charles Brown Jr. added in 13 points on 5-for-6 from the field, and Amarion Wilson also finished in the double digits with 10.

As a team, WBU shot 45.3 percent from the field and 38.1 percent from beyond the arc.  The Eagles outrebounded PCC 36-28 with 14 offensive rebounds, leading to 20 second chance points.

Pensacola Christian jumped out to a 9-0 lead to begin the game before two Amarion Wilson free throws got the Eagles on the board.  WBU got out to its first lead of the game with a Brown Jr. three-pointer to go up 13-12.  Pensacola Christian ended the first half on a 7-0 run highlighted by a Liam Gertdz buzzer beater three to send WBU into halftime down 37-31.

The Eagles responded by opening the second half on a 14-3 run punctuated by a townsend triple for a 45-40 lead.  The Eagles held the lead until PCC hit a three with 6:59 left to go up 54-53.  Pensacola Christian pushed the lead to 67-61 with 1:18 left in the ballgame on an Aaron Wagner three-pointer.

Jordan Johnson hit three free throws to bring WBU within a score with 47 seconds left.  After a PCC layup on the other end, Johnson hit from downtown to bring the Eagles back within two, but PCC was able to dribble the clock out and clinch the two-point victory.

The Eagles return to the hardwood on Thursday, Oct. 31 to take on Trinity College of Florida.  Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. from Pensacola, Fla.