Wednesday, January 9, 2008

 

JETER PACES TUSCULUM TO 73-67 OVERTIME OVER LMU

 

Lavonti Jeter                GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Lavonti Jeter recorded 22 points and scored the go-ahead basket with a minute left in overtime on a fast-break dunk as Tusculum College defeated Lincoln Memorial University, 73-67 Wednesday night in South Atlantic Conference action at Pioneer Arena.

 

                The Pioneers improve to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in league play, while the Railsplitters fall to 4-9, 0-3 SAC.  It was the 150th career meeting between the two Tennessee rivals and the fourth overtime outing in the series.

 

                Jeter shot 9-for-11 from the floor and pulled down a career-best 16 rebounds.  Jordan Lear added 19 points, while Kyle Moore posted 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.  Jimmy Boone rounded out the TC scoring with 10 markers.

 

                LMU was paced by Beau Brown’s double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Terry Delaney posted a gutty performance with 18 points and five rebounds in the loss.  Ryan Whitaker added 13 points, while Ronnie Jones hauled in eight boards.

 

                Tusculum led 25-21 at halftime and jumped out to its biggest lead of the game in the second period at 45-32 following a lay-up by Boone.

 

                With TC leading 49-39 with 6:09 left in regulation, LMU chipped away at the deficit using a 12-4 run to trail 53-51 following a pair of free throws by Whitaker.

 

                Tusculum moved back out to a 57-51 advantage with 1:24 left after a pair of free throws by Moore.  LMU would close out regulation with a furious 7-1 spurt.  Brown drilled a three-pointer with 55.6 seconds remaining and after a TC turnover, Delaney was fouled hard.  Delaney limped to the free throw line and made shots to tie the game with 18.1 seconds left.

 

                TC had a shot to win the game in regulation, but Moore’s 13-foot baseline jumper was off target and Lear’s put-back rimmed out, sending the game into overtime.

 

                In the extra period, Tusculum led by two on four occasions in the first 3:10.  LMU gained its first lead since the 15:35 mark of the first half, when Wadner Joseph connected on a basket to give the Railsplitters a 65-64 lead with 1:09 remaining.  Tusculum immediately in-bounded the ball and Moore’s pass to the paint was deflected, but right into the hands of Jeter, who slammed home the bucket, giving the Pioneers the lead for good at 66-65 with 61 seconds left.

 

                Tusculum scored six straight points, making their free throws down the stretch, including Moore who went 4-for-6 in the final 30 seconds and Jeter added two free throws with 14 ticks remaining on the clock to give TC a seven-point cushion (72-65) and the win.

 

                Tusculum shot 52.9 percent from the floor, while limiting LMU to 32.8 percent, including 3-of-12 in the overtime frame (25%).

 

                The Pioneers host Catawba College on Saturday for a 4 p.m. contest.  LMU will host Brevard on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. from Tex Turner Arena.

 

- TC -