LAKE WALES, Fla. - Warner University men's basketball team rode a big second half to a 70-49 home victory over Johnson & Wales University on Thursday night.  The Royals outscored the Wildcats 48-26 in the second half en route to their 18^th victory of the season (18-9) and their eighth in The Sun Conference (8-9).  The Wildcats drop to 12-14 with the loss and are now 9-8 in league play.

The Wildcats scored the first five points of the game and held a 5-0 lead two minutes into the game.  The Royals, however, came to life with a17-2 run down to the 11:49 mark and led by 10 points, 17-7.

At the 7:28 mark, Warner's Hunter Jump came off the bench and drained a three pointer moving the Royals' lead to 22-14.  From there the Royals went cold and did not score a point the rest of the half.  The Wildcats on the other hand score nine straight point including a layup at the buzzer to take a 23-22 lead into halftime.

After not scoring for the final seven minutes of the first half, the Royals came out blazing in the second half shooting 60.7% from the field.  The two sides battled to four tie scores in the opening minutes of the half and found themselves tied again at 38-38 with 13:09 to go in the game.  AJ Lamb kick started a 19-0 run for the Royals with a free throw at the 12:33 mark.  The run for the Royals spanned six minutes and ended with a Wildcats basket at the 6:21 mark.  Eddie Delegal and Antonio Ansley both had five points during the run.

In the end the Royals' offense was too much for the Wildcats in the second half as they outscored the visitors 48-26. 

Warren Hall scored two points in the first half but got red-hot in the second half scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting.  He led all scorers with 18 points in the game and also recorded three steals and three assists.  Keevis Tukes followed Hall with 13 points and was 3-of-5 from behind the arc.

Eddie Delegal led the Royals rebounding effort with a game-high 12.  He also scored seven points and had three assists.  Brandon Poore came off the bench to dish six assists with five points as well.

On Saturday, Feb. 21, the Royals close out the regular season at home against Ave Maria University.  Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Turner Athletic Center.