Wednesday, September 19, 2007

TUSCULUM MEN'S BASKETBALL GOES 2-1 DURING EXHIBITION TRIP TO CANADA

MONTREAL --- The Tusculum College men's basketball team won two of its three exhibition games last weekend during the Pioneers' international trip to Montreal. Tusculum opened with a 77-76 win over Dawson College on Friday night. TC followed with an 89-81 triumph against Montmorency College Saturday afternoon, before a 69-68 setback to the University of Quebec at Montreal later that evening.

Senior forward Jordan Lear played well during the weekend as he led the Pioneers averaging 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. The Zanesville, Ohio native shot 48.6 percent from the floor, including 6-for-14 from three-point territory (42.9%) in his three outings.

Newcomer Kyle Moore (Gainesville, Fla.) was solid in his three contests averaging 15.3 points per game.

Head coach Jim Boone, who is entering his third season at Tusculum, stated that the Canada trip was a good experience for his players and staff.

"This was a tremendous experience for our team," said Boone. "It was a great opportunity to experience a different country, language, environment, and for our team to bound for the three days we were there."

The exhibition trip, which is allowed by the NCAA, allowed Tusculum 10 days of practice along with the games in Canada.

"Our trip also gave our coaching staff an understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, which will give us a solid beginning when practice starts Oct. 15," added Boone. "Not only was this a chance to see our players in live game situations, but it was an outstanding educational opportunity for our student-athletes."

Tusculum 77, Dawson 76

Tusculum rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat Dawson 77-76 in the opening game of the Pioneers trip to Canada. Moore scored the final four points of the contest including a three-pointer with 37 seconds remaining to tie the fray at 76-76 and made a free throw on the ensuing technical foul against Dawson to win the game.

Tusculum showed jet-lag in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 39.4 percent from the floor, while Dawson canned 53 percent of its field goal attempts. Tusculum answered in the third quarter, outscoring its opponents by a 29-7 margin. TC shot better from the floor (45.2%), while limiting Dawson to 32 percent shooting in the second half.

Lear led the Pioneers with 20 points and 11 rebounds as he canned three of his four long-range attempts and shot 5-for-5 from the free throw line.

Moore added 19 points and eight assists, while sophomore Darren Hobbs (Dublin, Ohio) contributed eight markers and six rebounds in the win.

Tusculum 89, Montmorency 81

Senior Lavanti Jeter (Alexandria, Va.) poured in 16 points and five rebounds in Tusculum's 89-81 victory over Montmorency. Jeter shot 8-for-12 from the floor, while blocking a shot and tallying a steal. He sparked a TC comeback with 10 points in the second half.

Rob Troutman (Mt. Washington, Ky.) and Moore finished with 15 points each, while Lear added 14 points and eight rebounds in the TC victory.

Ryan Troutman (Mt. Washington, Ky.) added eight points and three rebounds, while sophomore Jimmy Boone (Greeneville, Tenn.) contributed six points, three assists and a pair of steals.

With the score tied 76-76 in the fourth quarter, Hobbs canned a pair of free throws to give the Pioneers the lead and Jimmy Boone canned a jumper to move TC out by four (80-76), a lead they wouldn't surrender. Tusculum was fouled heading down the stretch as the Pioneers made its free throws en route to the eight-point win.

Quebec-Montreal 69, Tusculum 68

Tusculum's only setback of the weekend came at the hands of the University of Quebec at Montreal (69-68). TC trailed 30-19 at halftime, but answered with a 24-14 third quarter to cut the deficit to one at 54-53.

Tusculum made a run at the end as the Pioneers knocked down three straight 3-pointers with two by Moore and a trey by Boone. After a defensive stop, Tusculum had a chance to win as Lear's three-pointer at the buzzer was off target as the Pioneers lost by one (69-68).

Lear accounted for his second double-double in as many days with his 15-point, 12-rebound effort. Lear shot 6-for-10 from the field, while blocking two shots and added two steals. Boone posted 14 points and three assists, while Moore contributed a dozen markers. Ryan Troutman finished with six points, but dished out a team-best nine assists in the loss.

The Pioneers have been off this week as the second block of the fall semester began on Monday. Tusculum will return to pre-season conditioning next week before beginning practice on Oct. 15.

Tusculum will play a 27-game regular season schedule as well as three exhibition games against NCAA Division I opponents Lipscomb University (Nov. 1), Kennesaw State University (Nov. 3) and Vanderbilt University (Nov. 5).

Tusculum opens the regular season Nov. 17-18 when it hosts the Pioneer Sodexho Classic. Tusculum will face Bellarmine University on Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. at Pioneer Arena.

- TC -