Thursday, November 15, 2007

TUSCULUM HOSTS SODEXHO PIONEER CLASSIC,

PIONEERS FACE BELLARMINE SATURDAY

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- With the return of five lettermen, including one of the program’s most prolific inside-outside threats, the Tusculum Pioneers open the 2007-08 regular season this weekend when they host the Sodexho Pioneer Classic.

TC tips-off this weekend's action on Saturday night at 6 p.m. when the Pioneers entertain Bellarmine University. Following that contest, Lincoln Memorial University takes on Georgia College & State University at 8 p.m.

Sunday's action begins at 2 p.m. when LMU faces Bellarmine, followed by the Tusculum/GC&SU game at 4 p.m.

Leading the Pioneers is head coach Jim Boone, who is entering his third season in Greeneville. Tusculum graduated six seniors, including four starters from last season’s 13-15 squad that finished sixth in the league. Boone will blend this year’s veteran group with six talented newcomers.

Anchoring this year’s squad is Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference forward Jordan Lear. The 6-7, 245-pound native of Zanesville, Ohio, averaged 12.7 points per game last year in a season that saw him miss five games due to injury, but he is healthy and eager to guide Tusculum back to the NCAA postseason.

Lear has scored over 1,000 points in his career and has demonstrated he can be productive from the paint (51.8 FG%), as well as stepping out and knocking down the three-point shot (46.3 3FG%). He also shot 76.7 percent from the free throw line, while hauling in 4.5 rebounds per game last season.

Senior forward Lavonti Jeter stepped in late in the season and made some solid contributions. The 6-6, 235-pounder from Alexandria, Va., averaged four points per game last year, but came on strong in later part of the season as he posted over 11 points per outing in his last eight contests. Jeter also added 2.9 boards per game in his first Tusculum season.

Sophomore guard Jimmy Boone also returns for his second Tusculum season. Boone, the oldest son of Pioneer head coach Jim Boone, averaged 5.1 points per game. Boone got some solid experience in his rookie campaign as he played in all 28 games and averaged over 16 minutes per outing.

Darren Hobbs, a 6-6, 195-pound guard, saw action in 17 contests, as he averaged just under two points per game.

Rounding out the corps of veterans is senior guard Emory Cain. Cain, along with Lear, was a member of Tusculum’s NCAA Tournament team in 2004-05. The Cleveland, Ga. guard played in seven games last season.

Rob Zalucki, a 6-7, 240-pound forward from Dexter, Mich., will be seeing his first action in a Pioneer uniform after red-shirting last season. Zalucki was a two-time All-Conference selection at Dexter High School, where he averaged 13 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game.

Six newcomers will also highlight the 2007-08 roster for the Pioneers, including Winthrop University transfer Kyle Moore. Moore, a 6-3, 185-pound guard from Gainesville, Fla., played in 27 games last season as Winthrop won the Big South Conference regular season and tournament titles, while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Moore spent a year in prep school at New Hampton Prep, where he started in every game en route to a 24-10 season. He averaged 10 points and six assists per game in leading New Hampton to a No. 8 national ranking. Moore played his prep career at Buchholz High School in Gainesville, where he led his senior squad to a 21-8 campaign and a No. 9 ranking at the 6A level.

Marko Kostic, a 6-9, 250-pound native of Belgrade, Serbia, will be looked to strengthen the Tusculum post attack. Kostic comes to TC from Chattanooga State Community College. He played his prep basketball in the United States at Christian Heritage High School in Chattanooga, where he averaged a double-double with 16 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest. He led his team to a State title in 2005 and was named to the Tennessee All-State Team as well as being tabbed Conference and District Most Valuable Player.

Ryan Troutman, a 6-2, 175-pound guard from Mt. Washington, Ky., starred at St. Catherine College. While at the Springfield, Ky. school, Ryan averaged 14 points, four assists and four rebounds per game and was named to the All-Western Conference TJCCAA Team. He attended Bullitt East High School where his prep squad advanced to the State Sweet 16. He was named to the 2005 All-State Team and was his team’s MVP.

Robert Troutman (younger brother to Ryan Troutman), a 6-5, 210-pound forward from Mt. Washington, Ky., completed a stellar senior campaign at Bullitt East where he was a Second Team All-State selection, averaging 23.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, including a school single-game record 46 points. Robert was named the Bullitt East Player of the Year and was runner-up for Mr. Basketball honors in the region. He played for the Kentucky All-Star Team this past summer.

Bryan Spriggs, a 6-5, 205-pound guard from Philadelphia, Pa., played at Allegany Community College. He averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game during his prep career at John Bartram High School. He earned Philadelphia All-Public accolades in one of his two seasons on the hardwood.

Duluth, Ga. native Andrew Steioff, rounds out the list of newcomers. The 6-7, 190-pound forward played at Northview High School where he averaged 15 points per game last season.

Following the Sodexho Classic, Tusculum will be on the road for seven straight games, beginning with next weekend's trip to Bluefield, W.Va. The Pioneers won't be at home until Dec. 19 when TC entertains Anderson University.

Tusculum has been a road-tested squad already this pre-season. In September, the Pioneers played three exhibition games in Canada, winning two of those contests. Earlier this month, TC played three tough NCAA Division I programs in five days with road games at Lipscomb University, Kennesaw State University and Vanderbilt University. In the Vanderbilt game, Tusculum rallied from a 17-point second half deficit and tied the game at 79-79 with a minute to play. TC lost on a free throw with 2.2 seconds remaining in an 80-79 decision.

- TC -