Faulkner University

Faulkner coach Jim Sanderson is a stoic figurehead.

He rarely shows much emotion unless the clock is running, electing to funnel his energy toward mitigating game-time drama.

Things were different Thursday night, though, when Sanderson's Eagles seized control of a seemingly terminal situation and earned a 63-58 win at AUM.

As Sanderson left the court, a rowdy group of several hundred Faulkner students roared with approval. The coach entered the crowd, slapped high-fives and cheered along.

"I had to let them know that they were a part of something special," Sanderson said. "They were a big reason we won. We were behind. It didn't look good. When we got it going, (the fans) kept it going."

AUM (14-4, 6-4 Southern States Athletic Conference) was leading by 10 points early in the second half when the game changed. Senators forward Robert Johnson landed awkwardly on his left ankle while guarding a drive by Faulkner guard Raul Cardenas. Johnson, AUM's top rebounder and most useful inside player, didn't return.

That left the home team exposed.

Faulkner pounced. During the next 11 minutes, the Eagles outscored AUM by 16 points. There wasn't a direct emphasis on attacking the Senators inside. Faulkner guard Richarde McCray said Johnson's absence simply made things easier.

AUM has two primary scorers: Johnson and guard Joseph Manuel.

McCray was charged with guarding Manuel during much of the second half. AUM's top scorer added only four points after halftime.

"We knew (Manuel) had to be the difference for them," said McCray, who finished with 16 points. "We knew it had to be him. I tried to take him out and let them try to win with the other guys."

AUM's alternative plans didn't evolve.

During the final five minutes of the game, the Senators scored one basket. That span included nine shots.

Still, Faulkner (15-5, 9-2) didn't control the game until late.

Sharp free throw shooting helped AUM keep pace with the Eagles despite the offensive issues. Faulkner's lead was only two points with 30 seconds remaining.

A pair of AUM turnovers in the full court led to Faulkner free throws. The Eagles hit 5-of-6 from the line during that final surge, ending the Senators' hopes.

"When we lost Robert, the whole demeanor of the game on our part changed," AUM coach Larry Chapman said. "We struggled at times with Robert out there, but we lost control of the game when we lost Robert. Faulkner deserves credit. They saw their chance and they took it."

The first half was all about lopsided runs.

Neither team could generate much consistency. AUM built a 7-0 rally, then watched Faulkner counter with a 9-0 run of its own. The Senators built a 13-0 run midway through the period, then watched Faulkner undermine that progress with a 12-0 run.

The issues were different for each team.

Faulkner seemed annoyed by the Senators' aggressive man-to-man defense, and struggled to even get its offensive system going at times. Sanderson called plays from the bench but his players -- perhaps consumed by the raucous atmosphere -- disregarded the pleas for order.

When the Eagles calmed, they were more successful.

AUM, as is customary, often placed undue emphasis on the three-point shot. As the team's accuracy fluctuated, so did its ability to score.

Johnson was the steadying force. He kept possessions alive with a pair of important offensive rebounds, and his eight points helped provide AUM its 38-33 halftime lead.

When Johnson went out with 15 minutes remaining in the second half, Faulkner gained inspiration. The team's defensive effort improved, the offense played with more purpose and McCray was nearly flawless when his team needed him most.

"I thought we were scared in the first half, but we played so much better in the second half," Sanderson said. "It's big for us to get one on the road. Hopefully, this is something we can use down the road. If you made the decision to play hard, good things happen."

Forward Brandon Vaughn led the Faulkner scoring effort with 17 points. Manuel and guard Montrelle Crittendon scored 14 a piece for the Senators.