Saturday, February 17, 2007

PRESBYTERIAN EDGES TUSCULUM 53-50 IN SAC BATTLE

CLINTON, S.C. --- Presbyterian College picked up its season-high eighth consecutive victory on senior day at the Templeton Center with a 53-50 win over Tusculum College.

The Blue Hose (18-7 overall) maintained its lead in the South Atlantic Conference standings with an 11-3 league mark in league play. Tusculum falls to 12-14 overall and 5-10 in the SAC.

Sean Dixon and Bryan Bostic finished with 11 points each, while Grant Herren added 10 markers in the victory. Tusculum senior Chris Poore finished with 15 points, including a dozen in the second half.

Similar to last month’s meeting, the contest was a defensive struggle that featured physical play as both teams were whistled for 49 fouls (TC 25, PC 24), resulting in 58 trips to the free throw line.

Presbyterian used an 11-5 run over the final seven minutes of the first half to take a 23-17 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, PC increased its advantage to nine points (37-28) with 11:27 left on the clock following a pair of free throws by Herren. Tusculum would cut the deficit to four points on several occasions down the stretch, including 47-43 following Larry Minnefee’s lay-up with 53 seconds left.

The Blue Hose made several free throws down the stretch, including nine in a row in the final two minutes. PC shot 26-for-31 at the charity stripe on the day (83.9%), including 20-for-23 in the second period.

The Pioneers shot 41.7 percent from the floor, including 55 percent in the second half. TC limited the Blue Hose to 33 percent shooting from the field, including 17.6 percent from three-point territory.

Tusculum’s Corey Poindexter added nine points, while teammates Lavanti Jeter and Gabe Story scored six points each.

Tusculum returns home Wednesday to host Mars Hill College for Senior Night. It will be the final home game for seniors Chris Poore, Gabe Story, Eric Williams, Tyler White, Serge Poppe and Larry Minnefee.

- TC -