MARIETTA, Ga. - Life (Ga.), ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Division I Top 25, held off Thomas, 78-74, on Sunday afternoon inside the Eagles' Nest.

The two teams split a pair of matchups this year after the Night Hawks won 83-74 on Nov. 1 inside TU Gymnasium.

"We got solid production from our bench today," Green and White coach Brent Crews said. "We fought hard for a large chunk of the second half to give us a chance to win, but credit Life. They seem to have hit a stride lately and did what they needed to close out the game."

Life (7-2) scored the first 13 points Sunday in a 6:18 span before Thomas (3-5) countered by scoring the next six, with five coming from Jerodd Blount. The Night Hawks closed within five points, 15-10, midway through the period following consecutive offensive rebounds and putbacks by Jalen Bonds. 

The Running Eagles led by as many as 15 in the first half after a Zach Landis steal and finish at the 7:27 mark before Crews' squad responded with an 8-0 spurt, ending with back-to-back 3s by Jakari Bush and JaVoris Cooks. Eric Johnson scored the final five points of the period for Thomas, but Life led 34-23 at intermission.

The Night Hawks shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from the floor and 18-of-22 from the free throw line in the final 20 minutes, allowing them to tie the game with 51 seconds to play after trailing by as many as 22 at the 14:43 mark. Thomas dominated a span of the period that covered 13:08, outscoring Life 39-17. During the stretch, the Green and White shot 14-of-15 from the line. Keion Peoples scored eight-straight Night Hawk points, as his made free throw tied the affair at 71.

Undra Mitchem scored five-straight Running Eagle points to put his team ahead 76-71 before Cooks canned a trey to close the gap within two with seven seconds left. However, Michael Mitchell hit two free throws in the final three seconds to seal the Life's sixth-straight win.

Miller finished with 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-5 from deep, to lead four Life players in double figures. Landis added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Mitchem and Ivan Benkovic each scored 11 points.

Peoples ended with a career-high 17 points off the bench, sparking four players in double figures. Cooks followed up with 15 points. Blount and Johnson came off the bench to register 11 and 10 points, respectively. The four players combined to shoot 25-of-32 from the stripe. Blount also had four steals. 

Bonds and Johnnel Ginnie each scored eight points. Bonds was 4-of-7 from the floor to go along with seven boards.

The Running Eagles shot 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the floor overall and 17-of-24 from the line, including 14-of-20 in the second stanza.

Thomas shot 37 percent (20-of-54) from the field and got a season-high 46 points from its reserves.

Each team was 45 percent (9-of-20) from 3-point range.

The Night Hawks resume Sun Conference play with three-straight home games, starting Thursday against No. 14 Florida Memorial at 7:30 p.m. ET.