MARIETTA - Using a 60 point second half and a 24 point effort from freshman forward Brandon Vaughn, sixth-seed Faulkner University upset second seed North Georgia Friday night 100-91 to move into the finals of the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament. <br>
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The Saints got down early in the game once again as the Eagles broke out to a nine point lead after SSAC Freshman of the Year Vaughn hit a three to make the score 26-17 with 9:45 left in the game. Faulkner kept the lead for the next five minutes until a made field goal from sophomore guard Matt Causey of Gainesville gave the Saints their first lead of the game at 29-28. <br>
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North Georgia had a four point lead with two minutes left in the first half, but buzzer beating three by freshman guard Jeremy Lunn cut the lead to one and made the score 41-40 going into halftime. <br>
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The Eagles were down for the first 10 minutes of the second half, but a three pointer from senior forward Stevan Milic gave Faulkner a 61-60 lead midway through the half. The Eagles, led by a slew of three's from Vaughn, went on a 22-9 run over the next five minutes to a 14 point lead. <br>
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North Georgia began to press Faulkner in the final five minutes of the game and a big three from Causey behind the arc cut the lead to 91-86. The Eagles though jumped back out to a 10 minute lead with less than one minute left in the game and held on to advance to the next round. <br>
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Causey had a game high 40 points for North Georgia and added seven assists. Senior guard Bryce Brickhouse chipped in 14 points and sophomore forward Mark Trust of Winder had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. <br>
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Vaughn led Faulkner with 24 points followed by Milic with a double-double of his own with 19 points and 10 rebounds. <br>
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With the loss, the Saints fall to 23-10 and must wait for the conference finally to see if they will earn a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. If Southern Polytechnic State University defeats Berry College tonight, North Georgia will win an automatic bid to the National Tournament. <br>
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The Eagles improve to 20-13 overall and will advance to the SSAC Tournament finals to face either SPSU or Berry College tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
