SURPRISE, Ariz. — The OUAZ Spirit men's basketball team found themselves in a grind-it-out battle from start to finish, overcoming a slow offensive start with a strong second-half push.

• First Half (23-25): In the first half, the Spirit struggled to find their rhythm but stayed firmly in the game thanks to Carter Gittens' steady play, as he posted 8 points and 6 rebounds. Zeke Viuhkola also kept OUAZ within reach with 4 points and 4 rebounds, helping the Spirit weather the early challenges.

• Second Half (67-53): The second half was a different story, as OUAZ came out energized and took control of the matchup. Kyle Haslam provided a major spark off the bench with 8 points, giving the Spirit a much-needed boost. Gittens continued his dominant night with 9 more points and 5 rebounds, while Viuhkola chipped in 9 points of his own to help secure a hard-fought win for the Spirit.

Top Performers

• Carter Gittens — 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists

• Zeke Viuhkola — 13 points, 6 rebounds

• Kyle Haslam — 9 points, 6 rebounds

• Max Mkpa — 4 points, 10 rebounds

Up Next

The Spirit will continue action at home against Nelson (AZ) on Saturday, December 13th at 2:00 PM (MST).

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