16 points, 8 rebounds vs. Harding
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
It took awhile for the Tigers to get used to their surroundings and by the time they did it was too late in a 64-59 non-conference loss to Harding Thursday night, Jan. 6, in St. Paul.
The visitors literally couldn't find the basket in the first half finishing the 18 minutes with just five field goals and looking up at a 22-16 deficit.
"We've played up there three times in the past few years and each time we've played the same way in the first half," coach Shane Wyandt said. "The other times we have been able to come back and get a win, but this time we got too far behind for that to happen."
The second half was a 180 degree turn as far as offense went with Farmington outscoring the Knights 43-42. Unfortunately, most of those points came after the damage had been done.
Harding stretched its lead to as many as 18 points before the Tigers began to turn things around. They cut the deficit to three points at 59-56 but the Knights maintained their lead down the stretch by making their free throws.
"We didn't turn the ball over so much against their pressure," Wyandt said. "It was more of the shots we were taking. We got in a hurry and playing way too fast. In the first half alone, we missed 15 shots from five feet and in."
Alex Michels who was held to a season-low nine points in the previous game bounced back to lead the Tigers in scoring with 16 points and tied with Austin Bassett for the team lead in rebounding with eight.
Andy Born netted a career-high 11 points; Darren Beenken added nine and Austin Bassett seven.
Farmington (4-5) takes to the road Saturday to complete its three-game week at Spring Lake Park in a rare Saturday afternoon contest.
