KOMU Video Highlights
FAYETTE, Mo. - Eric Franklin and Elliott Black combined for 34 points, sparking Central Methodist's men's basketball team to a 58-49 victory over Missouri Valley on Thursday night inside Puckett Fieldhouse in Heart of America Athletic Conference action. The Eagles (12-13, 6-9 HAAC) have won three straight games after defeating the Vikings (9-17, 4-10 HAAC).
"We had a nice overall effort final in the final two minutes to pull out this victory," Central Methodist�Head Coach Jeff Sherman said.�"The team is coming together, and we are playing our best ball at the time you want to be playing your best.�
"We had our chances to pull away at the beginning of the first half when we had around a 13-15 point lead, but Missouri Valley had a great run and played very hard to tie the game the last few minutes.�Earlier in the year, I think we may have hung our heads and such, but the difference now is our guys stepped up and competed and finished strong.�You can tell they want it now."
Franklin finished with a team-high 18 points. Black tallied 16 points and seven rebounds.
"I thought Eric and Elliott were keys for us tonight," Sherman commented. "Both led us in scoring and rebounding, but more importantly held our team together through some of our darker moments and kept a positive approach to our game plan.�I thought Missouri Valley played a perfect game plan against us and was all we could do to maintain consistency throughout the game with our normal routines with sets and defensive changes.�
"Defensively, I am very pleased holding Missouri Valley�to 49 points.�Since we only scored 58 ourselves, you won't win many games unless that defense steps up.�Our defense was the key the final couple minutes in the game."
The Eagles' Robert Mason scored eight points. Melvin Tillman had six.
Kevin Stander led Missouri Valley offensively with a game-high 26 points on 10-of-19 shooting. Stander�had over half�(53.1%) of the Vikings' points. David Smith and Michael Connor had six apiece.
Central Methodist shot 21-of-52 (40.4%) from the field and 11-of-15 (73.3%) from the charity stripe. Missouri Valley was 19-of-52 (36.5%) from the floor.
The Eagles will travel to Benedictine on Saturday. Tipoff is set for�4 p.m.
