The Randall University Saints defeated the Bruins men’s basketball team in its final game of 2018 in front of a packed Davis Field House on Saturday. Randall won its third straight title with the 86-84 victory.

The Bruins fought hard but failed to complete a comeback as Randall won on the final play of the game by blocking a potential buzzer beating layup.

Jayson Barnhart led the team with 30 points, Justin Matthews added 14, and Quez Fisher went for 15. It was an all-out team effort, and the Bruins worked to stop the
NCCAA’s No. 1 offense.

Randall University averaged almost 90 points a game for the entire season. Randall’s Trey Sneed alone scored 30 points in the final.

The Bruins fed off the energy of the home crowd in a larger turnout than most home games and the chance to host the title game.

The game started on a 11-2 Bruins run, and the team looked as though they were going to take the game right from the start.

“Our crowd truly was the sixth man,” Bruins head coach Burton Uwarow said. “The team really fed off their energy.”

But Randall wasn’t fazed, and they slowly chipped back into the game. Finally, they took the lead midway through the first half, and never gave it back.

Nate Ellenwood played on battered legs and still managed to put up 11 points and grab 15 rebounds. Ellenwood dished out his own 9 assists throughout the game.

A couple of those  passes went to Dustin Killough who finished with 10 points on the night.

The Bruins will lose seniors Cooper George, Matt DeHart, Dustin Killough, Justin Matthews and Robert Horn for the 2019 season, but the coaching staff will have some new recruits to work with.

Nine players on the 2018 team are not seniors and have a chance to play again next season.

The remaining guys will look to improve in any way they can. The Bruins will look for another shot at the title next year with its returning and developing core.