LAKE WALES, Fla. - Despite 28 points and eight-three pointers from Keevis Tukes, No. 24 Warner University men's basketball team lost at home to Thomas University (Ga.) 87-81 in overtime on Thursday night.  The Royals drop to 16-6 with the loss and are now 6-6 in The Sun Conference.  The Night Hawks, with the win, improve to 15-7 and are also 6-6 in league play.

The Royals got off to a fast start hitting on their first four shots from the field and led 8-2 at the 16:53 mark.  The Night Hawks made a run of their own over the next four minutes taking the lead with 12 straight points.  At the 11:42 mark, Brandon Poore broke a five minute scoring drought for the Royals to make it 14-12 in favor of Thomas.

The Night Hawks shot nearly 70% from the floor in the first half and led by as many as 12 points forcing a Warner timeout with 5:37 to go before halftime.  Coming out of the timeout the Royals' offense picked up and got the game to within one point with 41 seconds on the clock.  The Night Hawks' Marcus Humose answered with a three pointer in the final possession of the half and Thomas led 39-35 at the break.

Warren Hall led the Royals with 13 first half points.  Brandon Poore had six and Antonio Ansley came off the bench to add five points.

The Royals erased the four-point deficit by the first media timeout of the second half and led 51-48.  Keevis Tukes began to heat up with two shots from long distance to start the half.  The Royals were forced to call a timeout at the 8:49 mark and the Night Hawks out in front 63-59.  Over the next four minutes the Royals outscored Thomas 8-4 tying the game at 67-67.

The Night Hawks led by as many as five in the final minutes but the Royals got the final possession down by three, 74-71.  In the waning seconds, Warren Hall found Keevis Tukes at the top of key who banked his seventh-three pointer of the game off the glass and in to send the game into overtime.

In the extra period however, the Night Hawks outscored the Royals 13-7 to win the game 87-81.  The Royals shot 50% from the field but had two big turnovers that led to Night Hawk baskets.

Tukes finished the game with a career-high 28 points and was 8-of-13 from behind the arc.  He also grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals.  Hall scored 21 points, had four assists and three steals of his own in the loss.

The Royals look to bounce back in a tough road matchup on Saturday, Feb. 7, in Daytona Beach, Fla. against No. 2 Embry-Riddle University.  The game has been named the NAIA Network Game of the Week and can be seen live here.  Tip-off is at 4 p.m.