HENDERSON, Tenn. – Playing their first game in two weeks, the Central Baptist College men’s basketball team returned to action tonight against the Lions of Freed-Hardeman University in American Midwest Conference play. CBC (6-1, 4-1 AMC) got off to a slow start, trailing by as many as 10 in the first half, but fought back to lead at halftime and hold on to win 85-78 over FHU (4-10, 1-6 AMC).

“I’m extremely proud of our guys and how hard we played tonight,” said head coach Chris Wright. “Freed-Hardeman is a lot better than their record indicates. They came out and punched us in the mouth early and I love how we responded. Our energy and passion was contagious today. It was really fun to see.”

Andy Etienne and Andre Nikita were the co-leading scorers and Jon Warren joined them in double-figures. Victor Dukes barely missed his third double-double while leading the team in rebounds and Ashford Gold tied his career assist high for the second game in a row leading CBC in that category.

MUSTANG NOTES

• Etienne and Nikita each had 15 points, which was a season-high for Etienne
• Warren’s 13 points were his second highest total this year
• Dukes grabbed 10 rebounds to go with nine points, barely missing a double-double
• Golden had four assists, a total he also garnered against Missouri Baptist
• The Mustangs won despite being outrebounded
• CBC held FHU to just 19 percent shooting from beyond the arc

LION NOTES

• Kortland Martin led all scorers with 20 points and was one of four FHU players in double-digits
• Ehab Eltayeb had a game-high 12 rebounds
• Martin also led the team with four assists

NEXT UP

CBC returns to Reddin Fieldhouse on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, when the Scots of Lyon College visit Conway. Tip-off for the AMC tilt is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and will be the first home game for the Mustangs since Nov. 30.

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