Skyhawks fall at home to Johnson in high-scoring contest

WEST POINT, Ga. (Jan. 13, 2022) – The Point University men's basketball team hosted Johnson University Thursday evening in an Appalachian Athletic Conference matchup and fell to the Royals 94-89.

The Royals opened the contest with an 8-2 lead before Nichaune Jones sealed off a 6-0 run by the Skyhawks to make the score even at eight. A triple from Brent Gaither would give Point its first lead of the night with 12:41 remaining in the half (11-10). Neither team led by more than two possessions for the remainder of the half, with Johnson's Coby Jones connecting for a triple in the final minute of action to give the Royals a 45-43 lead. 

With 11 minutes remaining in the second half, RJ Selman connected for a triple to put Point ahead 64-63, but the Royals would answer with an 8-2 run to go ahead 71-66. Jones would give Johnson its largest lead of the night with 6:39 remaining in the game with a layup, followed by a 3-pointer, to put the Royals ahead 84-70.

Entering the last four minutes of action, Johnson led 89-73, but the Skyhawks would find late-game motivation and go on a 10-1 run to cut Johnson's lead down to seven. Lorenzo Freeman Jr. would connect for eight of the Skyhawks' 10 points with back-to-back layups to begin the run with a dunk from Corey Bowen to follow. Freeman would then connect for two free throws and another layup. Following two free throws from Johnson, Freeman would connect for another layup and Gaither would connect for two free throws, but the Skyhawks ran out of time and were unable to perform the comeback.

Point outscored the Royals 15-5 in the final four minutes of action.

Freeman led Point with 31 points and seven rebounds, going 13-for-27 from the field and 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Corey Bowen followed with 20 points and six rebounds off the bench, and Ray Reeves had 17 points and six rebounds. Johnson's Coby Jones finished the night with 40 points and 11 rebounds.

With the loss, Point falls to 8-9 (4-7 AAC) and Johnson advances to 6-10 (4-8 AAC).

Up next, the Skyhawks will host AAC foe Reinhardt on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m.