WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Facing a top 25 opponent for the third time in four games, No. 13 Warner University men's basketball team upset No. 8 Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) 71-54 on day one of the Marietta Rappaport Holiday Classic hosted by Keiser University.  The Royals overcame a three-point halftime deficit outscoring the Tigers by 20 in the second half to improve to 9-2 overall; the Tigers drop to 7-4 with the loss.  The win is the second over a top 10 opponent this season for the Royals who defeated No. 7 Bethel College (Ind.) 90-87 on Dec. 16.

The Tigers had the upper hand early scoring the first five points of the game and holding the Royals scoreless until the 15:50 mark.  Warren Hall scored a layup in the paint and the Royals were on the board in the first half. 

The Tigers led by as many as seven points in the first half but saw their lead disappear at the 8:26 mark when Hall finished another layup following an Eddie Delegal block on the defensive end.  Two minutes later, Delegal put the Royals ahead by seven, 21-14, after a steal by Nick Macon. 

The Tigers outrebounded the Royals 26-15 in the first half and used the extra possessions to battle back forcing three tie scores in the final two minutes of the half.  Tied at 27-27, Olivet's Chris Green drained a three-pointer with five seconds left and the Tigers went in a halftime leading 30-27. 

Hall led the Royals with 11 first-half points.  Josh Ellis got off to a hot start scoring eight points and had seven of Warner's 15 rebounds.

As the second half started it was the Royals who got off to a 5-0 run retaking the lead in the first two minutes of action.  With 16:37 to go in the game, Olivet's Reid Farchmin tied things up at 32-32 with a layup in the paint.  Delegal scored on Warner's next possession and the Royals never looked back. 

The Royals led by as many 18 points in the second half and used 51.6% shooting from the field to outscore the Tigers 44-24.  Defensively, the Royals turned up the heat on the Tigers' offense holding them to 33.3% shooting and forced 10 turnovers in the second half.

The Royals finished with three players in double figures.  Warren Hall led all players with 24 points and also had five rebounds.  Eddie Delegal had a monster game scoring 21 points with 12 rebounds, three blocks and three steals. 
Josh Ellis also had a strong game scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

Ellis and Nick Macon led a Warner defensive unit that forced 20 Tiger turnovers and had 15 steals.  Macon led the way with six steals of his own.

On Wednesday, Dec. 30, the Royals return to the hardwood in West Palm Beach, Fla. to take on Penn State Mont Alto at 5 p.m.  Fans can watch the game live courtesy of the Keiser University Sports Information Department by clicking here.


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