Saturday, January 6, 2007

SPRINGS SCORES 24 TO LEAD BEARS OVER TUSCULUM

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Marcus Springs recorded 24 points and five rebounds to lead the Lenoir-Rhyne College men's basketball team to a 72-62 South Atlantic Conference win at Tusculum College Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Arena.

The Bears improve to 7-5 overall and 1-1 in the SAC, while the Pioneers fall to 7-5, 0-2 in league play.

Eric Mauldin (Albemarle, N.C.) tallied 13 points and four assists, while Reggie Bratton (Charlotte, N.C.) scored all of his 11 points in the second half. Josh Kindred (Holly Springs, N.C.) finished with seven assists and three blocks in the win.

Tusculum was paced by Greeneville senior Chris Poore, who accounted for 24 points on 11-for-16 shooting. Poore also added five rebounds, including four on the offensive boards, while Junior Jordan Lear (Zanesville, Ohio) accounted for 11 points, while Greeneville freshman Jimmy Boone added nine markers and three assists off the bench.

Lenoir-Rhyne closed out the first half with a 12-4 run over the five minutes, including a 6-0 spurt over the final 3:04 to take a 29-21 advantage at the intermission. L-R's Donte Watson (Fayetteville, N.C.) converted a three-point play and Mauldin drained a three-pointer with 40 seconds left before the break.

The Bears took its biggest lead of the contest at 40-27 following a Bratton three-point play with 16:23 remaining.

Tusculum answered with a furious 13-4 run over the next five minutes Poore and Boone accounted for a three-point plays and Lavanti Jeter (Alexandria, Va.) blocked a shot and scored the ensuing lay-up to draw Tusculum within four (44-40).

L-R jumped its advantage back to double-digits with six straight points including a Springs' lay-up with 8:55 left on the clock.

Tusculum would get as close as eight points on several occasions down the stretch, including 68-60 following a jumper by Poore, but that's as close at TC would get. The Bears converted 20 of their 25 free throw attempts (80%), including 12 in a row in the final three minutes as TC fouled to send L-R to the line.

Lenoir-Rhyne shot 50 percent from the floor, including 15-of-22 in the second half (68.2%). Tusculum finished the afternoon shooting 46 percent, including 53.3 percent in the final 20 minutes.

Tusculum will travel to Harrogate, Tenn. on Monday to face Lincoln Memorial University in a SAC clash at Tex Turner Arena. Lenoir-Rhyne hosts SAC rival Presbyterian Monday night in Hickory, N.C.

- TC -