MARIETTA, Ga. – A big first half deficit once again crippled the Thomas University Men's basketball team, as the Bryan College Lions held on for a 99-96 win Saturday afternoon at the Eagles' Nest.
 
It was a tale of two halves, as the Night Hawks (0-2) got off to a slow start, trailing 9-1 lead in the first 2:09.  The Lions (2-0) continued to build their lead throughout the first half, heading into intermission with a 55-38 lead.
 
TU came out a new team in the second half, accumulating 58 points.  Despite being down as many as 19 points with 18:21 remaining, the Night Hawks spent the next five minutes trimming the Lions' lead to six. 
 
Bryan College caught a second wind midway through the second half, riding a 14-4 scoring run with 9:36 left in the game.  A minute later, the Lions once again appeared to have the game in hand with a dominant lead (86-68) when Freshman Amari Young converted a 3-ptr. 
 
With 6:13 remaining in the second half, and backs pinned to the wall, the Night Hawks went on a blazing 21-6 scoring run over the course of five minutes to put the game within one point, 95-94, with 49 seconds left. 
 
In an effort to go for the win, Thomas forced the Lions to the free throw line.  The plan backfired, as BC converted five of its last six shots at the charity stripe.  Despite the valiant comeback, a foul-plagued second half caught up with and ultimately doomed Thomas as Bryan College narrowly escaped with the 99-96 win.
 
Junior Guard Trint Bryant had an electrifying performance, notching his first career double-double with 31 Points and 12 Boards.  Junior Guard Jordan Booker also recorded a double-double on the day with 22 Points and 11 Assists, shooting 70% from inside the arch.  Thomas saw five shooters in double digit scoring, as the team shot 55% overall from the field.
 
TU is back in action Wednesday night, traveling to Cochran, Ga. to take on the Knights of Middle Georgia State.  Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMBKB.