The Eagles (13-1) started the game by hitting 11 of their first 14 shots from the field to take a 26-17 lead by the 10:30 mark. The deficit could have been worse for the Cougars (9-4), but senior guard Ben Falkenberg (left) had 13 quick points including going 3-for-4 from three-point range to keep MVNU in the game.

The Cougars were able to pull within three points on three occasions over the next six minutes including 39-36 on Falkenberg’s fourth three-pointer of the first half with just over four minutes remaining before the break.

However, the Eagles answered with a 7-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game 46-36 at the 3:01 mark. Another trey by Falkenberg and a basket by sophomore forward Adam Grimm helped pull MVNU closer, but the Cougars trailed 48-41 at the half.

Falkenberg pumped in 19 points in the first half as he went 5-for-6 from three-point range. Senior wing Andy Francis added five points off the bench, while sophomore guard Brandon Short, junior post Bryce Sanborn, and senior forward Jadin Thomas each scored four points. MVNU shot 46.9 percent from the field (15-for-32), 46.7 percent from three-point range (7-for-15), and 80.0 percent from the free throw line (4-for-5).

Sadiel Rojas led Oklahoma Wesleyan with 12 points and five rebounds in the first half, while Aaron Crowley added 10 points. The Eagles shot a blistering 63.3 percent from the field (19-for-30), 46.7 percent from three-point range (7-for-15), and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (3-for-4).

The Cougars roared out of the locker room to start the second half as MVNU used a 15-3 run to take a 56-51 advantage with less than six minutes gone by. Freshman guard Robbie Taylor provided a spark of the bench as he came in and scored four points with Falkenberg in the locker room not feeling well.

With the Cougars leading 60-55, Rojas scored five points to fuel a 7-0 spurt that put Oklahoma Wesleyan back on top 62-60 with 9:26 to play.

After a basket by Grimm and a pair of free throws by Short moved MVNU in front 64-62 at the 8:01 mark, another 7-0 run by the Eagles gave them the lead for good 69-64 with 6:25 remaining. The final six points of the surge came on back-to-back three-pointers by Steve Briggs in a span of about 20 seconds.

Oklahoma Wesleyan’s lead grew to as much as 73-66, but the Cougars kept battling and were able to pull within 81-80 on a pair of free throws by Thomas with 1:11 to play.

After Briggs hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to 83-80 with 53 seconds to go, Thomas went 1-for-2 at the line with 35.4 seconds left to make it 83-81.

On the inbounds play, the Eagles turned the ball back over to MVNU with 32 seconds still on the clock, but Thomas missed a jumper and the Cougars were forced to foul Mike McNeil, who made both free throws with 19 seconds left for the final margin of 85-81 as MVNU was unable to get any closer.

Falkenberg finished with a game-high 27 points to lead the Cougars as he went 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. Short (right) added 16 points, while Thomas finished with nine points and five rebounds. MVNU shot 45.6 percent from the field (26-for-57), 40.0 percent from three-point range (8-for-20), and 80.8 percent from the free throw line (21-for-26).

Briggs, who entered the game leading NAIA Division II in three-pointers made per game (4.2) finished with 22 points - 17 coming in the second half - and five treys to lead the Eagles, while Rojas added 19 points and seven rebounds. Crowley tossed in 12 points off the bench, and McNeil rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points. Oklahoma Wesleyan shot 53.6 percent from the field (30-for-56), 37.9 percent from three-point range (11-for-29), and 73.7 percent from the free throw line. The Eagles entered the game as the top team in NAIA Division II in three-pointers made per game (11.2) and finished right at their average.

“We played well for most of the game, but we have to learn to finish these games,” said MVNU coach Scott Flemming. “(Oklahoma Wesleyan) is a very good team, but if we want to be considered in that same class we have to beat these teams. This was disappointing, but we will keep fighting. We have to bounce back tomorrow.”

The Cougars will return to action at 7:30 p.m. CST on Thursday when MVNU will take on host Southwestern Assemblies of God. The NAIA Division I Lions are currently 4-5 overall after falling 100-68 to Oklahoma Wesleyan on Tuesday night for their only home loss of the season.