Eagles Get Four in Double-Figures in Road Win at Columbia

Columbia, SC - In a thrilling AAC contest, Reinhardt Men's Basketball team secured a narrow victory against the Columbia College Koalas with a final score of 71-68. It was another important win as the Eagles move into the middle third of their 2025-26 schedule. Reinhardt picked up their fourth overall win of the season and their third conference win.  Although very early, the win has the Eagles tied with four teams with a 3-2 conference record.

The first half started with Reinhardt establishing an early lead, thanks to a free throw from Nekhi Fisher. Fisher continued his strong performance, landing the first three-pointer for the Eagles. AJ Shaw played a pivotal role throughout the half, contributing crucial free throws that extended the lead. By the end of the period, the game was tied at 35-35, setting the stage for a competitive second half.  The score bounced back in forth with each team taking small leads before the score was equalized at the half.

The second half saw the Koalas initially taking a 9-point lead within the first eight minutes of the half, but the Eagles fought back valiantly. After the Koalas got the fast start in the second half, the Eagles kept things close and tied the game with around twelve minutes left in the game.  Keeping the score close in the first few minutes of the half was important because it allowed the Eagles to tighten up their defense and start scoring to catch the Koalas. Key players Tee Williams and AJ Shaw consistently scored, helping Reinhardt regain and then secure the lead. The tension peaked in the final moments as Williams and Jackson Sousa made vital free throws in the final minute to clinch the game for the Eagles, 71-68!. A Koala three-pointer in the final seconds brought the game to within one of the Eagles' lead, 69-68, but Sousa's free throws pushed the lead back, and the final seconds rolled off the clock.

Top performers for Reinhardt included Tee Williams with 14 points and AJ Shaw, who added 13 points. Derrick Brown also made significant contributions with 9 rebounds and 10 points. Brown was just one rebound shy of getting his second double-double in a row. Nehki Fisher was the fourth player in double-figure scoring for the Eagles shooting Reinhardt's effective strategy and robust defensive plays were crucial in overcoming the challenges posed by Columbia.

Looking ahead, the Reinhardt University Eagles are set to face Union Commonwealth on Wednesday evening in Barbourville, Kentucky. It will be the third road game in a row for the Eagles, which has been very successful so far. The Eagles currently hold a seasonal record of 4 wins and 8 losses, with a conference tally of 3-2.  The team will be back for a home game on Saturday, December 13th, to face the Rams of CIU.

photos courtesy of Nicole Seitz Photography