Memphis- In a holiday-season showdown just days before Christmas, the Christian Brothers University (CBU) Buccaneers delivered a gift to their home fans with a gritty 69-64 victory over AUM on December 20, 2025. Competing at Canale Arena, the Buccaneers relied on a high-energy defensive effort. The win provided a festive spark for CBU, as they held a slim 36-31 lead at the half and maintained their composure through 11 lead changes to secure the Gulf South Conference win.

The Buccaneers' success was anchored by a dominant double-double from Iman Kheirati, who paired a team-high 18 points with 12 rebounds and a relentless four steals. Joining him in the double-digit scoring column was Jabari Phillip Jr., who provided efficient offense with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting while also contributing three steals of his own. Though Marquis Gill struggled to find his rhythm from the floor, his Iron Man performance, playing all 40 minutes, resulted in a game-high seven assists and six rebounds, keeping the Buccaneers' offense organized in high-pressure moments.

CBU's bench proved to be the ultimate difference-maker, outperforming the AUM reserves by a staggering 23-5 margin. Key contributions came from Turner Duncan, Daniel Lans, and Max Cain, each of whom chipped in eight points to provide much-needed scoring variety. Defensively, the Bucs were opportunistic, turning 13 AUM turnovers into 18 points and out-rebounding their opponents 44-39. This collective team effort allowed Christian Brothers to head into the holiday break with a hard-earned victory.