LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warren Hall scored a career-high 38 points and Warner University men's basketball team defeated Johnson & Wales University 77-66 on Wednesday night in the Turner Athletic Center.  The win improves the No. 17 Royals' record to 6-1 while dropping the Wildcats to 3-4.

The Wildcats came out with the hot hand to start and led 10-4 after a Frank Bennett three-pointer at the 17:31 mark.  Hall's big night began 15 seconds later when he scored his first point of the game on a free throw.  Over the next two minutes Hall brought the Royals to within one scoring nine straight points. 

Later in the half Hall connected on two free throws at brought the game to its first tie, 22-22, at the 12:36 mark.  Three minutes later the Royals had their first lead of the game thanks to another Hall free throw.  With the score tied 30-30 with 4:48 to go in the first half, Hall again sank a pair of free throws to give the Royals the lead for good.  The Royals closed the half on an 8-2 run and led 38-32 at the break.

Hall finished with 21 points in the first half and was 6-for-11 from the field.  He was also 8-of-11 from the free throw line.  The Royals held a 19-18 rebound advantage through the first 20 minutes and had 10 second-chance points to show for it.

Antonio Ansley and Jamie Anderson hit back to back three pointers to start the second half and the Royals' lead ballooned to 12 points, 44-32, causing a quick timeout by the Wildcats with less than a minute gone off the game clock.  The timeout proved timely as the Wildcats responded with a 10-2 run of their own down to the 17:13 mark prompting a Warner timeout.

The Wildcats got to within two points of the Royals before the home team could extend their lead back out to double digits.  Eddie Delegal shook off a tough start and put the Royals ahead by 11 with 8:51 to go in the game.  As a team the Royal shot an even 50% from the field in the second half.

The Wildcats were resilient despite trailing by as many as 20 late in the second half.  Ricardo Suarez brought the game back to single digits with 1:16 to go in regulation.  The comeback bid was short lived however, as the Royals scored the final three points of the game via free throws to defeat Johnson & Wales 77-66.

Hall's big night ended with 38 points on 12-of-20 shooting.  The 38 points eclipses a previous career best 33 points he scored in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Eddie Delegal finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.  Antonio Ansley scored 10 points and had four rebounds.

The Royals return to the hardwood next Friday, Dec. 11, against University of Saint Francis (Ind.).  The game is being played in Lakeland, Fla. on the campus of Southeastern University.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.


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