Tuesday, November 26, 2002 

BLUE HOSE SHUT DOWN ALLEN UNIVERSITY 66-40 

CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College used it’s stifling defense to force 28 turnovers  and hold Allen University to 36.7% shooting from the field en route to a 66-40 win in non-conference men’s basketball action Tuesday night. 

The Blue Hose used solid defense a commanding 35-27 advantage on the boards to hold the Yellow Jackets to only 40 points in the game including 16 at the half. PC’s senior guard Chuck Rayford (Greenville, S.C.), this week’s South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week, continued his hot shooting tonight with a game-high 18 points including 12 in the first half. 

The Blue Hose took a commanding 35-16 lead into intermission after holding the Yellow Jackets to 35.0% from the field and did not allow an offensive board in the first half. Both teams played sloppy in the first half with Allen committing 15 turnovers while Presbyterian turned the ball over 12 times. 

Presbyterian pushed the lead to as many as 33 points (60-27) at the 6:34 mark of the second half on a layup by junior guard Willie Brown (Greenville, S.C.). Allen could only trim the lead down to 26 points at 60-44 on a jumper at the buzzer by freshman guard Cory McConnell (Columbia, S.C.). 

The Yellow Jackets (0-3) were led by junior forward Theseus Legree (Rochester, NY) who tallied a game-high 16 points and added seven rebounds. 

Joining Rayford for Blue Hose scoring honors was senior center Rod Isom (Anderson, S.C.), freshman center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) and junior guard Matt Scully (Dunwoody, Ga.) who each chipped in seven points apiece. Collins led the Blue Hose with nine rebounds while senior center Preston Davis (Charlotte, N.C.) tallied a game-high three blocks. 

Rayford continues to move up the South Atlantic Conference career scoring chart, passing former Catawba College standout Andre Godfrey (1989-92) for eighth place. Rayford now has 1,475 career points to his credit. 

The Blue Hose improve to 5-1 on the season and are riding a five-game win streak. PC will take off for Thanksgiving holiday, but return to action on Saturday, November 30 as they travel to Raleigh, N.C. to take on #9-ranked Shaw University at 7:00 pm.