An average performance at the free throw line could have single handedly been enough to give the Saints a season-opening road win, but their 24 misses at the charity stripe helped Spurgeon College hang on for a 113-103 win on Friday at the Mathena Student Center.

The Saints led 18-13 just 6:20 into play on Friday before Spurgeon, an NCCAA DII final four team a year ago, used a 24-6 run to take a 13-point lead midway through the first half. Central Christian got to within four in the second half, then watched the Knights use spurts of 13-0 and 13-3 for their largest lead of the game at 102-73.

Central Christian used the next seven minutes to make things interesting, capitalizing on a 28-6 run of their own to narrow the gap to seven with 50 seconds remaining, but that was as close as they could get before time ran out.

FINAL: Spurgeon 113, Central Christian 103
RECORDS: Spurgeon (1-0), Central Christian (0-1)

GAME NOTES:

• Central Christian shot 34-for-58 (58.6 percent) at the free throw line and committed 28 turnovers.
• Spurgeon was ultra aggressive, grabbing 29 offensive rebounds and 20 steals, but at the cost of committing 41 fouls and having six players foul out.
• It was a cold shooting performance in the first half for the Saints as they shot just 33 percent from the field and 18 percent on 3s.
• In the second half, Central Christian shot 55 percent from the field and 60 percent (6-for-10) from 3-point range.
• Spurgeon was only 3-for-31 (9.7 percent) from behind the arc.

TOP PERFORMERS:

• Jacob Bullock: 18 points, 13 rebounds
• Trey Palmer: 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks, 3 steals
• Gage Johnson: 16 points, 8 assists, 3 steals
• Gregg Boudreaux: 13 points, 6 rebounds
• Quincy James, Jr.: 9 points, 9 rebounds

UP NEXT:

The Saints will host Maranatha Baptist University in their home opener on Friday night at 7 p.m.