MACK DOUBLE-DOUBLE GIVES MEN’S BASKETBALL 2-0 START

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A 23-point, 12-rebound double-double from guard Gio Mack helped Avila men's basketball pick up a 90-70 win over William Woods on Thursday night at Mabee Fieldhouse, giving the Eagles their first 2-0 start to a season since 2020-21.

A tight open to the game saw Avila hold just a four-point lead at the first media timeout. Coming out of the huddle, Avila went on a quick 7-2 run to stretch their lead to 19-10. From there, Avila would extend its halftime lead to 35-25 and keep a double-digit lead for the majority of the second half.

Avila's 10-point halftime lead was helped by 11 points from James Ross III and 50 percent team shooting from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

The Eagles came out of the locker room strong in the second half, stretching their lead to as many as 25 with just over 12 minutes to play.

William Woods would not go away in the second half and cut the Avila lead to single digits with 3:34 to play.

From there, Avila would regain control once more and put the game away down the stretch.

The Eagles ended the game on a 15-4 run thanks to six points in the final 3:34 from Mack and five from Joe Kearney.

Avila shot 50.8 percent from the floor as a team, knocked down nine shots from behind the arc and buried 21 free throws, the team's highest total since Nov. 20, 2024.

Four of Avila's five starters finished in double figures, as well as Ross' 14 off the bench.

Mack finished his day with 23 points, 12 boards and six assists to go along with a pair of steals and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

The Eagle defense held William Woods to just 37 percent shooting and 30 percent from the free throw line on the game. 

Avila will look to start its season 3-0 on Saturday as the team visits Missouri Valley for a 4 PM tip from Marshall, Mo,

 (photo credit: Ixtla Banda)