(KINGSPORT, Tenn. ) – On Friday, the Truett McConnell University men’s basketball team remained in Kingsport, Tenn. for the semi-final round of tournament play against No. 1 Union College. The Bears suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Bulldogs, 61-64, concluding their 2021-2022 season. TMU finished with a record of 20-12, 14-10 AAC, while setting a new record for conference wins in a single season and tying the record for overall wins in a season.
PLAY BY PLAY
In the first half, the Bulldogs were first to score, but the Bears responded quickly. A layup from Brent Kelly and two free throws from Enocka Franky quickly tied the score. A foul on Kelly sent him to the free throw line, giving him two shots for the Bears to take the lead. Both teams proceeded to go back and forth for the entire half. A three pointer from Raul Arias-Ortega, a jump shot from Kelly and a layup from Cory Seitz gave TMU a six-point advantage. Free throws from Franky, Kafunba Toure and RJ Bryant increased the advantage to nine points. The Bulldogs were not satisfied and jumped on their opportunity by recapturing the lead. A jumper from Riley and a layup from Toure gave the Bears a chance, while a layup from Franky sent TMU into the half ahead, 31-30.
In the second half, both teams continued to battle it out on the court. TMU was the first to score with a layup from CJ Brown. The Bulldogs quickly tied the score and were able to create a deficit from the Bears. A jump shot from Kelly that was followed by a layup from Arias-Ortega kept the momentum flowing. Both teams continued to go back and forth until the final minutes when the Bulldogs got their biggest lead of six points. A free throw from Kelly and a layup from Arias-Ortega cut the deficit to four points. A last minute three point shot from Riley was not enough, as the Bears fell to a heartbreaking loss of 61-64.
LEADERS
Franky led the way offensively with 16 points, going 8-12 at the free throw line, while also adding nine rebounds. Kelly followed with 13 points, going 3-4 at the free throw line and also adding six rebounds. Arias-Ortega tallied 10 points, going 1-3 from behind the three-point line and 3-4 at the free throw line. Riley contributed six points, going 1-4 from behind the three-point arc. Toure added six points, going 2-4 from within the paint, all while tallying nine rebounds.
