Men's basketball hosts Dennis Spruell Classic, earns win

Oxford, Ga. - The Emory Oxford men's basketball team hosted the 12th annual Dennis Spruell Basketball Classic and earned their first win of the season. The classic featured the Eagles, Patrick and Henry Community College, Franklin Prep Academy and Georgia Highlands Reserve Squad. 

In Friday's game, Emory Oxford took on Patrick and Henry Community College. The Patriots were dominant for the entire game and defeated the home team by a score of 76-44. Sophomore Zuri Greene led Emory Oxford with 21 points.

Georgia Highlands Reserve Squad easily beat Franklin Prep Academy in the second game.

The Eagles played in the second game on Saturday. After being down for most of the first half, Emory Oxford climbed back to take a 41-36 lead at halftime. The Eagles never lost the lead after that and finished with an 83-81 victory.

With 40 seconds left in the game sophomore Ryan Kim hit a 3-point goal to break the 79-79 tie to put the Eagles back on top. Kim later blocked a ball shot by Franklin Prep that would have allowed the away team to tie the game. 

Freshman Everett Smith played the best game of his collegiate career, scoring ten points, including two important 3-pointers in the second half.

The Eagles had five players score double digit points. Kim led Emory Oxford with 26 points. Sophomores Anthony Vargas and Josh Kim scored 12 and ten points, respectively. Freshman Daniel Shin added 17 points for the home team. Josh Kim and Ryan Kim had nine and eight rebounds.

Patrick and Henry defeated Georgia Highlands in the first game Saturday.

Emory Oxford's next game is Wednesday, Jan. 24 at home against Emmanuel College Reserve Squad. Game time is 7 p.m.