Tuesday, November 21, 2000

Contact: Jeremy Richardson, USCS SID

PRESBYTERIAN WINS THRILLER AT USC SPARTANBURG 71-66
PC's Rayford continues hot hand with game-high 26 points  

SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Presbyterian College Blue Hose (2-0) overcame a ten-point second-half deficit and knocked off the USC Spartanburg Rifles (1-2) Tuesday night at the Hodge Center, 71-66.

USCS took a 35-32 lead into the locker room after scorching the nets for 62 percent shooting (13-21). The lead changed hands eight times in the opening twenty minutes, and the game was tied on six occasions. The Rifles led by six at 35-29 until Chuck Rayford -- who led all scorers with 26 points -- nailed a three-pointer with just five seconds left in the half.

The Rifles opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take their largest lead of the game (44-34) with 16:01 to play.

Freshman Fannar Olafsson keyed the run with seven points. USCS would hold off the Blue Hose most of the half, and the Rifles held a 62-56 lead with 5:05 to play. But seven straight PC points -- four from Rayford -- gave the Blue Hose a 63-62 lead with 2:41 on the clock. A Pall Kristinsson jumper put USCS back in front just 20 seconds later, but a Rayford three-pointer with 1:32 left gave PC a 66-64 lead.

USCS junior Etienne Norris hit a runner in the lane with just three ticks on the clock to forge a tie, but a Rifles foul on the inbound put Union native D.J. Humphries at the free throw line, where he hit one of two for a 67-66 lead. The Blue Hose would tack on four more free throws to account for the final score.

In addition to Rayford, Humphries had 14 points and Rod Isom 11 points and seven rebounds for the Blue Hose.

Senior Sherron Singleton led the Rifles with 17. Norris added 12 points and six assists.