MVNU (1-0) scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed as all 12 members of the varsity roster saw at least 10 minutes of action and 11 of the 12 players scored. Senior post Connor Gregg (left) got the scoring under way with a layup followed by a three-pointer from junior guard Ben Falkenberg and a layup by junior forward Jadin Thomas.

After the visiting Golden Eagles (3-1) pulled within 9-8 on a three-pointer by Brett West, a layup by Thomas and back-to-back three-pointers by junior guard Dan Borcherdt pushed the Cougars’ lead back to 17-8 with just over five minutes gone by in the contest.

Cincinnati Christian closed the gap to 17-15 with 12:17 left in the first half on a layup by Jake Santel. However, MVNU, which is ranked 19th in the NAIA Division II preseason poll, answered with a 32-14 run to close the half as the Cougars took a comfortable 49-29 lead to the locker room at the break.

Senior forward Evan Yates led MVNU with 10 points and four rebounds off the bench in the first half, while Falkenberg went 3-for-4 from three-point range for nine points. Thomas and Gregg both added eight points apiece with Gregg grabbing nine rebounds.

A pair of free throws by Drew Ellis to start the second half pulled the Golden Eagles within 49-31. Then, the Cougars used a 25-10 run to build a 74-41 lead and MVNU did not look back in cruising to the 103-69 victory as Falkenberg led the surge with 12 points in a seven-minute spurt.

Falkenberg (right) finished with a game-high 27 points to lead the Cougars as he went 7-for-9 from three-point range to pick up where he left off last year in leading all NAIA Division II players in three-pointers made per game (3.9) and ranking fourth in scoring (24.0 points per game). Yates finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore center Bryce Sanborn tossed in 10 points with five rebounds off the bench. Borcherdt also scored 10 points with six assists, and freshman guard Brandon Short added nine points off the bench as the MVNU reserves out-scored the Cincinnati Christian subs 43-20. Gregg and Thomas also finished with eight points with Gregg grabbing 11 rebounds.

The Cougars shot 54.5 percent from the field (42-for-77), 50.0 percent from three-point range (12-for-24), and 77.8 percent from the free throw line (7-for-9). MVNU out-rebounded the Golden Eagles (3-1) 54-35.

Santel led Cincinnati Christian with 14 points, while Drew Ellis added six points and a game-high 12 rebounds. West also scored 11 points for the Golden Eagles, who shot just 33.8 percent from the field (25-for-74) and 52.6 percent from the free throw line (10-for-19).

“We played pretty well for our first game,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming. “We did a nice job on the defensive boards that lead to our fastbreak points. Evan played outstanding around the basket in the first half. Ben got hot in the second half to help put the game away. It was good to be able to play everyone on opening night. We still have a long way to go in many areas and tomorrow will be a big test.”

MVNU will return to action at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday when the Cougars will take on unbeaten Spring Arbor (Mich.) University (3-0).