MEN’S BASKETBALL PICKS UP CONFERENCE-OPENING WIN ON TOILET PAPER TOSS NIGHT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avila men's basketball recorded win No. 5 on the season on Saturday, notching a 99-82 win over Bethany in the team's KCAC opener, giving Avila conference-opening wins in back-to-back seasons.

The Eagles shot 55 percent from the field and forced 17 Swede turnovers, while outscoring Bethany 54-28 in the paint en route to the win.

Less than a minute into the contest, Xavier Kahube made a layup to send the toilet paper flying from all over Mabee Fieldhouse on to the court in the program's first Toilet Paper Toss Game.

After a brief spell to clear the court and a technical foul shot from Bethany, Avila had momentum and the crowd on its side.

The two teams played close for the first 10 minutes of the game. Following a 29-29 tie, Avila would end the first half on a 22-15 run to take a 51-44 lead into the halftime locker rooms.

Kahube (13), Gio Mack and James Ross III (10 each) led the way for Avila on the offensive end in the opening 20 minutes. Those three led on the offensive end while Avila's defense forced 10 Bethany turnovers.

Coming out of the locker rooms, Bethany would not go away, taking a 62-61 lead at the 13:32 mark. Fortunately for Avila, that was Bethany's final lead of the game. Avila stretched its lead to as many as 18 points late in the game before settling on the 17-point victory in the conference opener.

Playing only eight tonight, each of Avila's five starters scored in double figures, led by 26 from Kahube. Mack finished his night with 17 points, nine boards and six assists. Blessing Nwotite (three) joined Mack and Jason Ernest (two each) with multiple steals in the contest.

As a team, the Eagles shot 36-of-65 from the field and seven-of-17 from three-point range en route to the victory. 

Avila is back in action on Wednesday night at Mabee Fieldhouse, taking on Evangel at 7:30 PM.

 (photo credit: Ixtla Banda)