LAKE WALES, Fla. – Four players scored in double-figures as No. 10 Warner University men's basketball team defeated cross-town rivals Webber International University 87-75 on Saturday afternoon. The Royals defeated Southeastern University earlier in the week to go 2-0 over their biggest rivals. The win also improves the Royals' record to 12-3 and their conference mark to 3-0. The Warriors drop to 7-10 and 1-3 with the loss.
Both teams shot extremely well in the first half as the two battled to four ties and two lead changes in the opening 20 minutes. The Royals had the slight edge in the first half shooting 58.6% from the field including 4-for-7 from behind the arc.
At the break the Royals led the Warriors 44-39 behind 15 points from
Warren Hall and 10 points from
Eddie Delegal. The Warner defense forced nine Webber turnovers in the first half that resulted in 14 points for the home team.
Coming out of halftime the Royals went to work extending their lead and led 58-44 after the first media timeout. It was a 13-point lead for the Royals by the second media timeout and two minutes later a Delegal dunk after a
Nick Macon steal put the Royals ahead by 21, 74-53.
As a team the Royals were 60.9% shooters in the second half and never gave up the lead. The Warriors were resilient and narrowed the Warner lead to eight points with 1:25 to go in the game but the Royals outscored them 6-2 the rest of the way to win by 12, 87-75.
Hall finished with 12 points in the second half giving him 27 for the game on 10-of-14 shooting. He also had seven rebounds. Delegal picked up his eighth double-double of the season scoring 15 points with a season-high 16 rebounds.
Antonio Ansley scored 13 points and
Jamie Anderson scored with 11 points to round out the Royals' double-digit scorers.
Nick Macon led all players with six assists and five steals.
The Royals return to action with a three-game slate on tap next week. First on Tuesday, Jan. 12, the Royals south to take on Florida Memorial University at 8 p.m. Then on Thursday, Jan. 14, the Royals are back in Miami Gardens, Fla. to face St. Thomas University at 7 p.m. Finally on Saturday, Jan. 16, the Royals are back in the Turner Athletic Center for a Top 25 showdown with No. 14 Keiser University. Tip-off will be at 4 p.m.
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