LEAD
DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The Sabercats trailed for the whole game except the last 10 seconds tonight, posting a thrilling comeback win 70-67 at Emmaus Bible College in NCCAA Midwest Region play.
Brayden Cox led the Sabercats with a career-high 25 points, converting the game-winning layup with four seconds on the clock to give the Sabercats their fifth win of the season and the season sweep over Emmaus.
OVERVIEW
- Result: Maranatha 70-67 Emmaus
- Venue: Pollard Fieldhouse - Emmaus Bible College
- Location: Dubuque, Iowa
- Event: NCCAA Midwest Region - Regular Season
- Attendance: -
- Records: MBU (5-17), EBC (5-19)
STORY
A
Noah Jensen three-pointer meant the Sabercats were just one point shy of their hosts with under 10 minutes to play in the first half, but that was as close as the Sabercats would come in the first half. Emmaus took a 39-30 lead into the halftime break, scoring over half their points from downtown in the opening 20 minutes.
Nashon Harper and Tyler Casey were leading the Eagles, both going 3-5 from downtown. On the Sabercats' side of things, Cox shouldered 14 of the points and had added three assists and four boards.
The second half saw the Sabercats stay within striking distance of Emmaus, but the hosts maintained a six-point lead, and even grew it out to 11 points with just under seven minutes to play in the game. The Sabercats weren't going away anytime soon, but it looked like Emmaus had it pretty much wrapped up.
In the closing minutes, the Sabercats forced a couple of crucial missed shots and turnovers from the hosts and capitalized on the opportunities, going 5-7 from the field in the final five minutes. The final 60 seconds showed the Sabercats' heart, as
David Gingery nailed a three-pointer with 56 seconds on the clock to make it a one-point game. Gingery grabbed a defensive board at the other end on the next possession, and the game was there for the Sabercats to take. Up stepped Cox, who weaved his way through traffic and laced a layup off the glass to give the Sabercats their first lead of the game with 10 seconds left.
When Emmaus couldn't convert on the other end,
Noah Jensen sealed the game from the line with two free throws to make it a 70-67 game. Emmaus's buzzer-beater to tie the game from halfcourt was no good, and the Sabercats had snatched an unlikely win from the Eagles just when it mattered most.
Maranatha Starters: 2-Cox, 12-Jensen, 21-Moultrie, 33-Mertes, 44-Cashner
STATS
- MBU: shot 40.3 percent from the field
- EBC: shot 44.1 percent from the field
- Cox: career-high 25 points
- Last time: Maranatha defeated Emmaus 86-70 on Nov. 16, 2023
- Series: Maranatha currently leads the series against Emmaus 40-8
OPPONENTS
- Emmaus competes in the Midwest Christian College Conference
- Emmaus also competes with Maranatha in the NCCAA DII Midwest region
- Emmaus finished the '22-'23 season with a record of 9-16
NEXT
The Sabercats travel to Chicago, Ill to take on Moody in another NCCAA Midwest region match-up on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 P.M. This will conclude the Sabercats' regular season. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.
