Second-half flurry by Avila sends Eagles past Eutectics in season opener

KANSAS CITY, MO – The curtain went up on the Eutectics 2025-26 season as they began the journey on the road against the Avila Eagles. UHSP was looking to repeat the start they had to the season a year ago when they opened the campaign by winning their five consecutive games. The Eagles and Eutectics met for the third time ever on Friday night and the Eagles came away with a 94-79 season-opening win. The teams played even in the second half as each scored 40 points, but it was Avila that was able to make a 54-39 halftime lead hold up.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

AVILA 94, UHSP 79

• The Eagles scored the first eight points of the game and eventually took a 20-8 lead with 13:18 left in the first half.
• Brennen Walker was able to cut the lead to single digits with 10:32 remaining in the half when he grabbed a rebound on the defensive end and ten seconds later converted a layup to make it 26-18
• On of UHSP's top threats from the perimeter in Jasmin Suvalija drilled a three at the 9:36 mark to cut the Eagles lead to 28-21.
• David Moore made it a six-point margin with 6:04 to go in the half as Bryant Odunayo fed him for a three-point shot to make it 35-29. Odunayo would trim it to a four-point game :26 seconds later with a three of his own as the Eutectics trailed 36-32.
• With 5:08 to go in the half, it turned to a one-possession game at 37-34 as Moore found Landon Engelage for a layup.
• Avila went on a 11-0 run to build the lead back to a comfortable 14-point lead at 48-34.
• The Eagles eventually make it a 20+ margin as Jason Ernest created a turnover with a steal and turned it into a dunk at the other end for an 86-65 advantage.
• UHSP falls to 0-3 all-time against Avila.
• The Eutectics took three more field goals than the Eagles, but Avila made eight more connecting at 53.7% while UHSP shot 40% from the floor.
• The Eutectics won the rebound battle 44-35, but turned it over 19 times to the Eagles' eight.
• Xavier Khune led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting for Avila with eight rebounds and five assists.
• Justin Coleman and Suvalija led four Eutectics in double figures as they each scored 14 points. They combined to go 9-of-21 from the floor while Suvalija was 4-of-9 from perimeter. Coleman grabbed seven rebounds in the game.
• Brennen Walker hauled down a team high ten boards for UHSP with four coming on the offensive end. He was the only double-digit rebounder in the game.
• Jason Ernest had 19 points and nine rebounds for Avila.

NEXT UP:

After finishing up their season opener, the Eutectics are right back at it less than 24 hours later as they play in Marshall, MO. UHSP (0-1) will play at Missouri Valley (0-0) on Saturday night at 7:00p before they return to campus for their home opener on Thursday against Central Christian College of the Bible.