Wednesday, December 19, 2007

 

TUSCULUM RAINS THREES IN 86-62 WIN OVER ANDERSON

 

Kyle Moore                GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College men’s basketball team poured in 15 three-pointers, including eight by Kyle Moore as the Pioneers defeated visiting Anderson University, 86-62 Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena.  Moore finished with 26 points, while shooting 8-for-11 from beyond the arc.

 

                Tusculum (5-5), playing in their first home game in over a month, shot 58 percent from the floor, including 69 percent in the second half.  TC blistered the nets from long-range going 15-for-26 (57.7%) on the evening, including 8-of-10 in the final 20 minutes.

 

                Jordan Lear and Lavonti Jeter each posted 12 points, while Jimmy Boone added 11 points.  Ryan Troutman accounted for nine markers and a game-high eight assists in the victory.

 

                Anderson (3-7) was led by Nayte Russell’s 25 points on 10-for-19 shooting.  Brandon Young accounted for 19 points, while Jarret Johnson tallied four points and a team-best eight rebounds in the loss.

 

                The Trojans jumped out to 7-2 lead in the opening 3:12 of the game following a three-pointer by Russell.  Tusculum answered with seven unanswered points over the next 1:40 including a trey by Moore to move TC up 9-7.

 

                With Tusculum leading 20-15 with 11:12 left before halftime, the Pioneers went on a 20-6 run over the next eight minutes, including 11 points by Boone as TC led 40-21 at the 2:43 mark.  Russell scored the final five points of the half, including a three-point play and a dunk as the Trojans trailed 40-26 at the break.

 

                In the second half, TC opened with a 13-2 spurt over the first five minutes, including three-pointers by Moore, Lear and Darren Hobbs as the Pioneers led 53-29.

 

                AU responded with a three-point play and a three-pointer by Russell to trim the deficit to 53-35 with 13:57 remaining.  Tusculum put the contest away with a 29-9 run to take its biggest lead of the night at 82-44 with 5:12 left in the game after a three-pointer by Troutman.

 

                Tusculum won the board-battle by a 36-24 margin, led by Lear’s eight rebounds, and seven boards each by Jeter and Hobbs.

 

                The Pioneers, winners of four of their last five games, return to action Jan. 2 when TC hosts nationally-ranked Mount Olive College at Pioneer Arena.

 

- TC -