To view previous stories and photos please visit the new Season Archive link in the navigation column to the left of the screen.
Faulkner advances in SSAC tourney
March 5, 2008
CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Faulkner scored the game's first seven points and never trailed, holding off Southern Poly 71-62 here Wednesday to advance to the semifinals of the Southern States Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
The third-seeded Eagles (17-14) face seventh-seeded Emmanuel, which shocked second seed and No. 14 Auburn Montgomery 81-71 in the first round. The semifinal is set to tip off Friday afternoon at 2:15. To make its eighth trip in 10 seasons to the NAIA national tournament later this month in Kansas City, Faulkner must either win the tournament or make the finals against regular season champion Lee.
"I thought our guys really played hard this afternoon, and it's a great feeling to advance in this tournament,'' said Faulkner head basketball coach Jim Sanderson, whose Eagles were upset by Emmanuel 60-57 last Sunday on Faulkner's Senior Day. "Southern Poly is a tough team to play - they're very athletic. We saw some things today that we certainly need to work on and improve. We have an opportunity to do just that Friday afternoon.''
Faulkner's Jon Uriarte hit a long three to open the game, and Jonathan Walker followed with a pair of baskets as the Eagles raced to a 7-0 advantage. Faulkner's lead was only 26-23 in the final two minutes of the half, but the Eagles' Durell Richardson powered in a putback basket, Aaron Greenwood converted a conventional three-point play and Richardson added a free throw to push the lead to 32-23 at halftime.
The Runnin' Hornets refused to wilt in the second half, cutting what was an 11-point deficit down to only four at 60-56 with 4:53 left. On a key Southern Poly possession, with a chance to cut the lead even further, Faulkner's Jeremy Lunn forced a turnover, giving the Eagles both the ball and the momentum. It led to a 7-2 run the extended the lead to 67-58 at the 2:34 mark.
Faulkner made 11 consecutive free throws down the stretch to keep Southern Poly at bay. Faulkner was 30 of 38 from the free-throw line in the game, while Southern Poly converted only 12 of 18. Neither team shot the ball well from the field - Faulkner making only 32 percent of its shots and Southern Poly only 33. Richardson finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Eagles, who also got 14 points and six rebounds from Uriarte. Travis Smith led the Runnin' Hornets with 19 points, while Ledonshay Johnson added 12.
The Eagles won despite having 15 shots blocked and giving up 20 offensive rebounds, which led to a 48-43 Southern Poly advantage on the glass.
"Coming off the loss on Sunday, I think this victory will help our confidence a bit,'' Sanderson said. "It kinda gets the bad taste out of our mouthes. We have a big challenge ahead of us. It will be interesting to see how our players respond.''
Uriarte, McCray and Greenwood honored
March 4, 2008
Cleveland, Tenn. - Faulkner placed two on the All-Southern States Athletic Conference team, announced Tuesday night at the conference tournament banquet in Cleveland, Tenn. The Eagles were represented by senior guard Richarde McCray and senior forward Jon Uriarte. Faulkner's Arron Greenwood was selected to the conference's all-academic team.
Lee’s Brad Harris, who led the second-ranked Flames to the regular season championship, was named the SSAC player of the year. Lee head coach Tommy Brown was named the coach of the year.
Both Auburn Montgomery and Faulkner begin play in the conference tournament Wednesday afternoon. The second-seeded Senators play seventh-seeded Emmanuel at noon, followed by the third-seeded Eagles battle with sixth-seeded Southern Poly at 2:15.
If both Auburn Montgomery and Faulkner win Wednesday, the two teams would face each other for the third time this season Friday afternoon at 2:15 in the tournament semifinals. Faulkner won both regular season matchups, including last week’s 76-65 victory at AUM. The SSAC tournament championship game is scheduled for Saturday night at 6 p.m.
The roller coaster ride that was the Faulkner basketball team’s regular season came to a halt recently in front of a boisterous Tine Davis Gymnasium crowd on Senior Day. And the final game on the schedule fell right into the script of a season full of highs and lows.
Durell Richardson earns a pair of points the hard way agaisnt Emmanuel
Coming off an emotional 76-65 win over cross-town rival and No. 12 ranked Auburn Montgomery five days earlier, the Eagles went flat in the finale and were upset by Emmanuel College 60-57. Team leaders included Reggie Dupree who had 14 points, one rebound and a steal and Durell Richardson who finished with 11 points, eight boards and a steal. It was a tough way to end the regular season for five seniors – Richarde McCray, Brandon Vaughn, Jeremy Lunn, Jon Uriarte and Durell Richardson – who were playing in their last game in front of the home fans. Team leaders included Reggie Dupree who had 14 points, one rebound and a steal
Jon Uriarte puts in a couple against the Lions
Faulkner, which headed into the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament March 5-8 in Cleveland, Tenn., as the third seed, ended the regular season with a 16-14 record against what was generally thought to be the toughest NAIA schedule in the country. Of the Eagles’ 12 non-conference games, nine came against teams ranked in the NAIA national poll. Faulkner also traveled to play – and beat – Montevallo, a perennial power at the NCAA Div. II level.
Jonathan Walker storms to the rack for the score in the season finale
The regular season offered plenty of highlights, including the two-game sweep of AUM, the 21-point victory in front of a shocked partisan crowd at Montevallo, and the pulsating last-second win on the road against conference foe Berry – won with Jonathan Walker’s 40-foot bank shot at the final buzzer.
De Hereford puts up a shot in the Eagles' last regular season game
The Eagles, who never could string together more than a two-game win streak, still entered the post-season with a chance to earn another bid to the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City. If Faulkner could win the SSAC tourney – or just make the finals against regular season champion Lee – its ticket to the 32-team national championship event would be punched. Last season in Kansas City, Faulkner made it all the way to the Fab Four before losing to eventual national champion Oklahoma City.
A Week To Remember...
Faulkner Rolls In NAIA Tourney
(click for More)
Eagles soar to Final Four
(click for More)
Faulkner Advances to the
Elite Eight
(click for More)
Faulkner Advances in NAIA Tourney
(click for More)
2001 National Champions
National Tournament Appearances
1992, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
2001, 2002, 2003, 2007
Faulkner Wins SSAC Crown, Earns Bid To
NAIA Tourney... click to read more
Since Jim Sanderson’s return to Faulkner University in 1994, the Eagles basketball program has taken flight. With an aggressive full court pressure defense and up-tempo fast break style on offense – the Eagles have earned their place among the nation’s elite NAIA programs. Faulkner has been ranked in the national Top 25 poll for an amazing 67 weeks and has had players elected All-American, national tournament MVP, to the NAIA all-tournament team as well as numerous players selected to all-conference teams. Prior to Sanderson’s return Faulkner had made only one appearance in the NAIA national tournament (1992) but has since made the trip to Tulsa and Kansas City seven times in the last nine years, advancing to the Elite Eight in 2000, the Fab Four in 2007 and winning the Division I national championship in 2001. 
Winning has been synonymous with Faulkner basketball as the Eagles have averaged 22 wins per season for the last 13 years and have never had a losing season during that same span. Faulkner has had equal success in conference play – winning regular season championships in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 and tournament championships in 1999, 2002 and 2003. Since Faulkner joined the GACC (now SSAC) no conference team has won as many conference games, gone to as many national tournaments or won as many conference championships as the Eagles.
The future of Faulkner Basketball continues to look bright – as the new state-of-the-art athletic complex provides the team with a new 2000 sq. ft. weight room training facility, as well as additional practice space. The renovation of the dorms and new apartments will also make campus life off the court more comfortable for its student-athletes.
Coach Jim Sanderson on the future outlook of his program:
“My main goal for the future of Faulkner basketball is to continue the process of developing people of high character who do not compromise and display championship traits both on and off the floor. If we continue to adhere to the process of being championship people, the results will take care of itself.”
