The Escambia Academy boys’ basketball team fell to Morgan Academy 69-61 Friday night to suffer their second straight area loss.

The loss drops them to 14-3 on the season and 2-2 in area play.

Morgan Academy got the early lead 10-9 before Garrett Kirk was able to put the Cougars back up. The game went back and forth during the first quarter as EA took a 13-12 lead with three minutes left, but allowed Morgan to take it right back.

Morgan took a 17-15 lead with 45 seconds left before Jordan Sasser tied it up at 17 to end the quarter.

Kirk gave the Cougars the lead with four straight points to start the second quarter. EA led 23-17 with 5:30 left in the quarter.

The Cougars were up 29-19 as Maleek Salter hit a bucket with an assist from Sasser. Kirk hit a shot in the paint to give the Cougars a 31-19 lead with 3:45 left.

Brett Helton blocked a Morgan attempt and scored on the other end to give the Cougars a 35-21 lead.

Morgan mounted a comeback before halftime, cutting it within five at 35-30 with a three-point shot, but EA led 37-30 at the half.
Helton got another block at the start of the third quarter, but Morgan hit a three-pointer to bring the score within three points with five minutes left.

Morgan went on a 7-4 run in the third quarter, but trailed 41-37 with 4:19 left. Salter hit a floater to put the Cougars up five.

Morgan regained a three-point lead with one minute left in the third and the lead was one point at the start of the final quarter.

A Sasser bucket put EA back on top 52-51with 6:42 left, but Morgan scored the next seven points to take a 58-52 lead with five minutes left.

Sasser hit four consecutive foul shots to cut MA’s lead to three at 60-57, but Morgan answered with a three to push the lead to six with 2:11 left in the game.

Sasser again hit a free throw to complete a three-point play and bring the Cougars within three at 63-60. Kirk, Helton and Tehron Stallworth all score blocks on defense, but Morgan still led 65-60 with 1:02 remaining.

Kirk hit one of two free throws to cut the Morgan lead to 65-61 with 44 seconds remaining, but a missed Sasser three-pointer gave Morgan possession and the game at 69-61.