MEN’S BASKETBALL PULLS AWAY IN WIN AT YORK

YORK, Neb. – Still fighting for postseason positioning, Avila men's basketball used 30 points from Xavier Kahube and a decisive second half to beat York on Wednesday, 85-69.

The lead went back-and-forth in the first half and only two points were scored in the final two minutes of the first. With 75 seconds remaining, Kahube knocked down a jumper to give the Eagles a two-point lead entering the break.

Avila pulled away in the second half, outscoring York by 14 in the final 20 minutes.

In the second half, the Eagles held the Panthers to just 32 percent shooting from the field, compared to 60 percent on the offensive end for Avila.

In the game, Avila was a perfect 14-of-14 from the foul line and dominated down low, outscoring York 54-22 in the paint.

Kahube's 30 points are a season-high and his second-highest scoring output in an Eagle uniform.

Gio Mack helped the Avila effort with a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Joe Kearney with 12 and Jason Ernest with 10 off the bench were Avila's other double-digit scorers in the game.

Avila's 16 wins this season are its most in a decade and the third-most in the last 20 years. 

Sitting at 16-11 and with its eyes closing in on the KCAC Tournament, Avila will wrap up its regular season on Saturday at Tabor at 4 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)