Box Score PHOENIX, AZ– The 10th ranked Arizona Christian Firestorm men's basketball team slipped by the Biola Eagles on Tuesday evening by a final of 70-65 inside of the Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Arizona Christian University.
The first half featured a tight close scoring ballgame. At the half, the 10th ranked Firestorm led Biola by the slim margin of four points at 28-24. ACU shot 40% (9-for-22) from the field and shot 30% (3-for-10) from the three-point arc. The Firestorm got to the free-throw line a bunch; as they converted on seven of their 12 attempts. The Biola Eagles shot 40% (10-for-25) from the field and shot just 33% (3-for-9) from the three-point arc. Biola was unable to get to the free-throw line much in the first half, as they shot just 1-for-2 from the charity stripe.
In the second half, the teams kept it close the entire time with ACU outscoring Biola by a point at 42-41. The Firestorm shot 57% from the field and went 5-of-8 from beyond the three-point arc. ACU made it count from the free-throw line as well, shooting 7-for-11. Biola in the second half shot 65% (13-for-20) from the field and shot 55% (5-of-9) from behind the three-point arc. The Eagles shot 10-of-13 from the charity stripe in the second half, but it still wasn't enough as they fell to ACU by five points.
The Firestorm had three players score in double-figures with Brandon Newman leading the way with a team high 21 points. Newman shot 8-for-14 from the field and was 5-of-7 from beyond the three-point arc.
Earlier in the day Tuesday, the NAIA released its sixth 2014-15 NAIA Division 1 Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. For the second consecutive week, the Firestorm remain ranked 10th in the nation. Other GSAC teams that are in the poll are, Hope International at #2, Concordia is tied at #8, and Westmont is currently receiving votes just outside the Top 25.
The Firestorm men close out their three-game homestand this Saturday against the nationally ranked Hope International Royals. Opening tip for the men's game is scheduled for 4pm this Saturday inside of Fultz Memorial Gymnasium. The women's game will precede the men's game with a scheduled tip time set for 2pm.
