MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and decided at the free-throw line, the Faulkner Eagles held off a second-half surge from the Stillman Tigers to secure a 70-65 victory in a men’s NAIA basketball contest Tuesday night.

The Eagles, playing on their home court, built a commanding early lead, capitalizing on a dominant first quarter to take a 37-23 advantage. The Tigers, however, refused to capitulate, mounting a sustained offensive effort in the second quarter to claw their way back into the game before ultimately falling short.

Faulkner’s win was largely powered by its efficiency from the charity stripe. The Eagles attempted 29 free throws, converting 20, while Stillman managed only 15 attempts, making eight. This 12-point disparity at the line proved to be the decisive factor in the five-point contest.

The game’s narrative was one of two contrasting halves. Faulkner opened with intense pressure, forcing early Stillman misses and turnovers to build a double-digit lead. The Eagles’ Tanner Vogel was instrumental in the first-half effort, scoring efficiently around the rim.

Stillman emerged from the break a transformed team. The Tigers’ offense, which sputtered in the first quarter, found its rhythm. Jordan Fordyce caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting multiple three-pointers during the Tigers’ comeback bid. A key sequence saw Stillman’s Adrelin Robinson connect on a three-pointer and, following a Faulkner turnover, Fordyce finish a fast-break layup to cut the deficit to a single possession and energize the visiting bench.

Despite Stillman’s improved shooting, Faulkner consistently found answers to halt the Tigers’ momentum. Every time Stillman threatened to take the lead, the Eagles responded, often through the play of Gabriel Rivera, who provided a critical scoring punch off the bench.

The final minutes became a tense free-throw shooting contest. With the outcome still in doubt, Faulkner’s KJ Rogers and Rivera displayed composure, sinking crucial free throws in the closing seconds to seal the victory. A last-second steal by Faulkner’s Jordyn Turner-Durley extinguished Stillman’s final hope.

Statistically, the game was a near-even affair outside of free throws. Faulkner held a slight rebounding edge, 45-36, while both teams recorded nearly identical numbers in assists, steals, and turnovers. Stillman actually posted a higher offensive rating, scoring 106.3 points per 100 possessions to Faulkner’s 101.8, but their inability to get to the foul line and convert when they did ultimately cost them.

Key individual performances highlighted the box score. For Faulkner, Tanner Vogel recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Gabriel Rivera led all scorers with 19 points off the bench, and KJ Rogers added 17 points, including several key free throws down the stretch.

Stillman was led by Allister Dixon, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Fordyce, who spearheaded the second-quarter rally to finish with 16 points.

With the loss, Stillman remains winless, falling to 0-3 on the young season. The Tigers will look for their first victory on the road Friday against Blue Mountain Christian. Faulkner improves to 4-1 and will host Blue Mountain Christian next Thursday. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch at Stillman on Dec. 17.