After several years with collegiate basketball, Life University Running Eagles are headed to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament. Life University defeated Crichton College 95-81 for the first Association of Independent Institution Basketball Tournament Championship held on March 8, 2009 in Orangeburg, SC.

After several years with collegiate basketball, Life University Running Eagles are headed to the NAIA National Basketball Tournament. Life University defeated Crichton College 95-81 for the first Association of Independent Institution Basketball Tournament Championship held on March 8, 2009 in Orangeburg, SC.

The lead changed 17 times in the first-half until the Life Running Eagles went on a 9-0 run with 1:28 remaining in the half. At the half, Crichton trailed Life 44-37.

Life came out the second half with rejuvenated life and took control of the game with an 8-1 run to grab the 53-38. Crichton was only able to cut the lead to eight points with 1:59 remaining in the game.

Life did not have an easy road to the championship. The fifth-seeded Life University defeated fourth-seeded Lambuth University 98-92 in the quarter-finals. On Saturday, the Running Eagles upset top seeded and third-ranked Mountain State University 81-69.

Tay Barber, the tournament MVP, led the Running Eagles with 22 points and 7 assists. Life had three other players in double figures. Ken Moore finished with 16 points while Marcus Spivey and Greg Brown added 15 and 13 points respectively.

Joining Barber on the All-Tournament Team were Ken Moore from Life University, Jared Strode and Jerranda Wheeler from Crichton College, Andrew Lee from Mountain State University, and Herschel Rodgers from Park University.