Elgin, IL – Judson University men's basketball team put together one of its best performances of the season on Saturday afternoon, outlasting Saint Xavier 89–83 at the Lindner Fitness Center.

After trailing 41–37 at the break, the Eagles flipped the script in the second half, shooting an efficient 55.2 percent from the floor and scoring 52 points over the final 20 minutes. Judson used balanced scoring, strong ball movement, and timely stops down the stretch to secure the victory.

EJ Reese led the way with a dominant all-around effort, pouring in 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting while pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds to record a double-double.

Bronson Bartuch added 22 points of his own, knocking down six three-pointers and providing a spark throughout the afternoon. Bartuch made five 3-pointers in the first 10 minutes alone, and for a minute flirted with the school record of most three-pointers in a single game. His hot shooting certainly kept the Eagles in it early on. 

Hunter Duncan finished with 17 points, four assists, and six steals, setting the tone defensively, while battling through constant hard contact and injuries.

Billy Brown III played a key role down the stretch as he took over for Duncan when he fouled out, chipping in 10 points off the bench. Fernando Perez Jr. facilitated the offense with six assists as Judson finished with 21 assists on 31 made field goals.

The game featured multiple lead changes in the second half, with Saint Xavier pulling even at 70–70 late before Judson responded with poise. The Eagles were steady at the free-throw line in the closing minutes and forced key turnovers to seal the win. In the first half, it was St. X that had a huge advantage at the free throw line. But when fouls mounted in the second half, it allowed JU to comeback and ultimately take the lead. 

Judson finished the afternoon shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three-point range, edging the Cougars on the glass and capitalizing on points off turnovers.

The win marks a confidence-boosting result for the Eagles as this young team continues to develop. It is JU's first conference win on the season. The Eagles will continue conference play, and look to build off of this momentum heading into their next matchup Wednesday night when they host Holy Cross.