THIRTY-FOUR POINTS FROM BRIONNE WILLIAMS HELPS MEN’S BASKETBALL WIN FIFTH-STRAIGHT

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A trip to the other side of the state prior to a quick Thanksgiving break saw Avila men's basketball win its fifth-straight game as they beat UHSP 82-72 thanks in large part to 34 points from Brionne Williams and a huge first-half run.

Trailing 15-13 nearing the midway mark of the first half, the Eagles grabbed momentum and delivered a knockout punch in just six minutes.

A 21-0 run saw a two-point deficit turn into a 19-point lead with four and a half minutes to play in the first half. Avila used the huge run to enter the halftime break with a 42-25 lead.

Xavier Kahube and Brionne Williams had identical first-half stat lines: 12 points and six rebounds as Avila shot 53 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes.

Reigning KCAC Defensive Player of the Week Joe Kearney picked up right where he left off, nabbing three steals in the first half to help put together the enormous run.

The Eutectics fought their way back in the second half, but it was not enough as Avila shot 55 percent for the game and dominated down low, outscoring UHSP 58-22 in the paint.

Brionne Williams had the biggest game of his Avila career, finishing with 34 points on 16-of-19 shooting with 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.

Robert Lee III had 14 points off the bench, while Kahube (17 points, nine rebounds) and Jordan Majeed (seven points on a perfect 4-4 from the line) helped Avila continue its best start to a season in nearly a decade. 

A quick holiday break will see Avila back in action on Dec. 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan before returning to Mabee Fieldhouse to face Southwestern on Dec. 7.

(photo credit: Greg Tadych/UHSP)