Saturday, January 25, 2003 

BLUE HOSE DEFEAT BEARS IN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE 55-47
PC’s Chuck Rayford one assist shy of triple-double 

CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College senior guard Chuck Rayford (Greenville, S.C.) tallied 14 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists to lead the Blue Hose to a 55-47 win over Lenoir-Rhyne College in SAC men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon. 

The first half saw the Blue Hose jump out to a 9-2 lead in the first eight minutes highlighted by five points from senior forward Curtis Stamps (Marion, S.C.) off the bench. After PC pushed the lead to 13-4, the Bears responded with a 11-5 run to close out the first half and trailed 18-15 entering intermission. 

Lenoir-Rhyne which struggled to shoot 27.3% from the field in the first half was led by junior guard Randy Mauldin (Albemarle, N.C.). PC was led by Stamps’ seven first half points off the bench. 

The second half saw the Blue Hose extend the lead to 33-19 at the 14:56 mark on a pair of free throws by junior guard Andrew Dellinger (Mauertown, Va.). The Bears fought back and used a 23-11 run over the next nine minutes to pull within 44-42 at the 5:07 mark. L-R’s sophomore Tony Connelly (Charlotte, N.C.) led the way during the run with nine points to keep the Bears close. The Blue Hose iced the game down the stretch on the free throw line, hitting seven-of-eight attempts in the final three minutes. 

Joining Rayford for scoring honors was freshman forward Michael Drum (Rural Hall, N.C.) added eight points and four rebounds. 

Lenoir-Rhyne was led by Mauldin’s 16 points and Connelly added 10 points. Junior center Roman Davis (Baltimore, MD) added eight points and six rebounds. 

Presbyterian College improves to 16-4 overall and 3-2 in the league while Lenoir-Rhyne College, who entered the game in a three-way tie for first place with Carson-Newman College and Wingate University, fell to 11-5 overall and 3-2 in the league.