LEAD

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The Sabercats Men's Basketball Team has returned for business, coming from behind to take a 66-60 win at Emmaus Bible College.

A dominant double-double from Stephen Wilkerson, and key plays from Aaron Sanders, Taylor Ball, and Tyree Bruno made the difference when it mattered most, and the Sabercats are 1-0 to start the season.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 66-60 Emmaus
• Venue: Pollard Fieldhouse, Emmaus Bible College
• Location: Dubuque, Iowa
• Attendance: 50
• Records: MBU (1-0), EBC (1-3)

STORY

The game was an all-out defensive battle in the opening exchanges, as it took almost 10 minutes for someone to break 10 points. Emmaus was the better team until the seven-minute mark, when Tyree Bruno hit a free throw to put the Sabercats ahead 22-21 - their first lead of the game.

From there, the Sabercats held the lead into the halftime break but it wasn't without pressure from their hosts. MBU overcame the pressure-packed start to shoot 31.3 percent from the floor (10 of 32), and a 14-point performance in the first half from Stephen Wilkerson put Maranatha in the driver's seat 32-29.

The second half was a battle of the wills, as the Eagles' resolve to defend their home court was matched only by the Sabercats' determination to send a message to the North Region. Wilkerson was the clear protagonist for the Sabercats, logging 27 points on the night with a supporting cast of Aaron Sanders (18 points) and Taylor Ball (10 points). But the win was anything but easy.

After the lead changed hands over the closing minutes, the Eagles gave Maranatha a scare by coming within a point with under a minute left. 

Cue: Ball and Bruno, who made two crucial plays to seal the win. It started with Ball driving to the basket and making a three-point play, then a defensive rebound and two free throws from Bruno put the finishing touches on a combative first night for the Sabercats, who stayed cool in the clutch to cement a 66-60 win over the spirited Eagles.

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Maranatha Starters: 0- Bruno, 2- Ball, 4- Steuerwald, 5- Sanders, 23- Wilkerson // Emmaus Starters: 1- Petkau, 2- Parra, 11- Janke, 14- Erbeck, 23- Buckner

SOUND BITE

Captain Stephen Wilkerson mentioned before the game that the Sabercats are eager to show "what [they're] made of" and send a message to North Region opponents. "We're ready to let them know what Maranatha is made out of. We're ready to come out and show what we've been working on."

Austin Brammer kept things cool in his approach to playing against the school he transferred from. "I'm excited, but the goal is just to go out and play my best. Obviously there's the added motivation of playing against my former school. [I'm trying to] get some points but set the other guys up as well. Should be a nice win for us."

Turns out that both were correct. Maranatha has started the season strong against a revitalized Emmaus sqaud, and this is a sign of more good things to come in the 2020-21 season.

STATS

• Wilkerson: 27 PTS, 12 REB
• Sanders: 18 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST
• Ball: 10 PTS, 3 REB
• Bruno: 7 PTS, 9 REB
• Austin Brammer: featured against his former school, logging two rebounds
• Last year: The Sabercats took a 105-68 and a 90-60 win away from Emmaus
• Series: Maranatha now leads the all-time series 32-4

OPPONENTS

• Emmaus competes with the Sabercats for the NCCAA North Region
• Emmaus began the season with two losses to rigid NAIA competition

NEXT

The Sabercats will face North Central Univeristy two day in a row on Friday and Saturday. Find details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.