HAVERFORD, Pa. – A torrid first half from Eastern beyond the arc proved too much for the Haverford College men's basketball team to overcome in an 83-75 defeat in the Fords' final game before the holiday break. The Eagles (5-4) made a total of 12 three-pointers for the game, but 10 of them came in the opening half. That early edge was just enough to hold off a late charge from the Fords (4-6).
Jeremy Evans led Haverford with 16 points on the afternoon, hitting four three-pointers of his own in the final minutes of playing time. Kahlil Garnes also reached double figures with 13 points, 12 of which came in the opening half. Jesse Turkson returned to the lineup and pulled down 13 rebounds to go along with his five points. Eastern had three players reach double figures in the scoring column, led by Austin Duncan's 16 points.
The opening half was a period of runs with both sides finding their offensive groves at times during the first 20 minutes. The Eagles started out hot from the field, scoring the first seven points of the contest and prompting Haverford head coach Patrick Doherty to call for a full timeout less than four minutes into the game.
After a break to settle down the action, the Fords came right back with 14 of the next 22 points to take a 15-14 lead after Garnes' layup at the 9:26 mark of the half. The Eagles scored on just three different offensive sets during that span of the next seven minutes, but a pair of treys kept the game tight during that span. Haverford's lead grew to three points as Garnes hit a pair of free throws which vaulted the Fords' run to 16-8 over a span of 8:59 of playing time.
Nevertheless, when the Eagles got their offensive shooting touch back they promptly knocked down three-pointers on consecutive possessions to regain the lead. Eastern went on to hit seven treys during the final 7:25 of playing time in the opening period and carried a 40-24 lead into the locker room. The visiting Eagles finished the first half with 30 of their 40 points from beyond the arc.
Haverford scored the first five points of the second half as back-to-back layups from Michael Wiper and Grayson Roth opened the second period of play. However, that 40-29 deficit grew as Eastern kept its hot shooting with an 11-3 run after those quick baskets.
Even though unable to tie the score, the Fords did leave the crowd energized by scoring 26 of the game's final 31 points. That total came in the final 6:17 of playing time after the Eagles held their largest advantage of the afternoon.
With final exams in the coming week, men's basketball will now break from competition until after the New Year. The Fords will return to action on Wednesday, January 3 with their final non-conference game of the season at Penn State Brandywine. That game will tip at 7 p.m. Centennial Conference play resumes when Haverford returns home to host Dickinson on Saturday, January 6 in a doubleheader alongside the women.