DUBUQUE, Iowa — The Sabercats couldn't overcome a slow start at Emmaus last night, falling 75-89 in an NCCAA Midwest Region contest.

Will Schultz put up a season-best 28 points to lead everyone on the night. Chris Orsello was the only other Sabercat in double figures, contributing 15 points. After the loss, the Sabercats will turn their attention to Moody Bible Institute tomorrow for a 2:00 p.m. matchup in Chicago.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 75-89 Emmaus
• Venue: Pollard Fieldhouse - Emmaus University
• Location: Dubuque, Iowa
• Event: NCCAA Midwest Region - Regular Season
• Attendance: 175
• Records: MBU (1-16), EU (12-6)

STORY 
The game tipped off and the Eagles seemed to already be in flight, soaring out in the first five minutes to a 14-point lead - the same margin of the final score. The Sabercats finally got their feet under them, however, when Will Shultz sprang off the bench to score six points and when Jonathan Fuller hit a three-pointer to knock the deficit back down to single digits. It had taken the Sabercats over six minutes to connect from the field.

At the other end of the floor, Taydem Arguello shot 5-5 from downtown and 7-10 overall to take 21 points into the halftime break. Emmaus lived up to their reputation as a shooting team, going 58 percent from three-point range to score 30 of their 47 first-half points from distance. Maranatha was trying to keep pace with 33 points, but the 14-point margin was there again.

Down but not out, the Sabercats clawed their way back to make it a game in the first eight minutes of the second half, when Jumauca Golliday and Schultz connected a few shots. Grant Brock put in a layup at the 12:42 mark to make it a 4-point game, and it felt like the tide was turning. 

But a massive moment came with 9 minutes left, when William Shaw made a four-point play for Emmaus out of nowhere, increasing the Eagles' lead to 12 points. Those were Shaw's first points of the game and he would go on to contribute 12 points for the Eagles on the night. 

That seemed to be the spark that started the fire, as the Eagles held off any hopes of a Sabercat comeback, taking the 14-point win on their home floor. 

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Maranatha Starters: 0- Golliday, 2- Cox (C), 10- Shank, 21-Brock, 24- Orsello

STATS

• Shultz: 28 PTS^, 3 REB, 2 AST
• Orsello: 15 PTS, 3 REB
• Golliday: 9 PTS, 5 REB
• MBU shot 42.6 percent from the field
• EU shot 50.0 percent from the field
• Last time: Emmaus defeated Maranatha 87-84 on November 19, 2024
• Series: Maranatha leads the series 40-10

OPPONENTS

• Emmaus competes in tthe National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association along side Maranatha in the Midwest Region (NCAA Dlll)
• Emmaus finished the 23'-24' season with a record of 6-24

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Chicago, Illinois to face Moody Bible Institute, today at 2 P.M. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.