Eagles Fall to Ave Maria in Canyons Classic Opener

Waleska, GA - Reinhardt Basketball is working its way through a competitive schedule to start its 2025-26 season.  The team is hosting the Canyons Classic for the second year in a row, and the competition level of this classic is top-notch.  The classic has two NAIA-ranked teams in Ave Maria (#15) and Dalton State (#18), and also has a very talented Johnson Royals team from the AAC.

The Eagles opened up with Ave Maria in the second game of the day.  In the first game of the day, Dalton State held off a late run by Johnson to secure an 80-73 win! The Eagles weren't as lucky in their game as the Gyrenes poured it on, winning 93 to 69.  The loss brings the start to 0-3 early in the 2025-26 season.

The game started with promise as Derrick Brown scored the opening points with a precise jumper, setting an early pace for Reinhardt. However, the Gyrenes quickly turned the tide with a series of forced turnovers and fast-break points, which saw them take a substantial lead. By the end of the first half, Ave Maria had solidified their advantage to 42-33. The Eagles made a great comeback in the final five minutes of the first half behind the play of freshman point guard Areal Jones, Tucker Lowe, and Blake Seitz.  Jones showed great maturity handling the pressure from Ave Maria's press and put in 16 points coming off the bench for the Eagles.  He was the leading scorer in the game. Lowe put in 9 for the Eagles, coming off the bench to support as well.

The second half saw Ave Maria continuing their dominant performance. Early points by Jack Watkins further extended their lead, and Jonathan Effertz's consecutive three-pointers were crucial in maintaining Ave Maria's control over the game. Despite efforts from Reinhardt, turnovers and a struggle to secure offensive rebounds marred their performance. Ave Maria's consistent pressure eventually pushed their lead to a commanding 27 points.

For the Eagles, Arael Jones stood out with his ability to drive to the basket and create his own shot. He was supported by Dillon Fulwood with 12 points and solid defensive efforts. Additional contributions came from Nekhi Fisher and Seitz, enhancing the team's performance. However, these efforts were overshadowed by Ave Maria's strategic gameplay and strong performances, particularly from their guards.

Reinhardt will need to put this game behind them quickly as they have to prepare for the Roadrunners of Dalton State Sunday afternoon at the Brown.  The Eagles will need to build on the bright points that come from each game as the team starts to develop their roles.  They will have a few more games before they start AAC play on November 12th versus Tennessee Wesleyan.