Saturday, December 7, 2002

Blue Hose hold on for a 79-70 win over Shenandoah University
PC’s Rayford & Drum score 19 points apiece in victory

WINCHESTER, Va .— The SU men's basketball team fought for 40 minutes Saturday evening versus Division II Presbyterian, but fell short in a 79-70 loss before a packed house at Shingleton Gymnasium.

The loss snaps a four game winning streak to start the season and a nine-game home winning streak that stretched back to last season for Shenandoah (4-1).

After the Hornets briefly regained the lead on a Tyson Thompson (Keysville, Va./Randolph Henry) three pointer with 9:10 left, PC went ahead for good when freshman forward Michael Drum (Rural Hall, N.C.) buried a trey of his own 66 seconds later.

The Blue Hose extended their advantage to nine points on three different occasions before taking a 38-30 lead at the break as Thompson canned one of two free throws with two seconds remaining.

SU attempted to make a game of it during the final 20 minutes by cutting the deficit to three points on three different points, including 65-62 with 5:40 to play, but could get no closer.

Thompson provided the overflow crowd with something to cheer about as he became the 13th member of the men’s basketball 1000th point club when he hit the second of two free throws with 54 seconds left. He led all scorers with a career high 33 points while Tom Crawford (Alexandria, Va./Montgomery-Rockville) added 11.

PC’s senior guard Chuck Rayford (Greenville, S.C.) and Drum both had 19 for Presbyterian; Northern Shenandoah Valley natives senior forward Jeff Whittle (Strasburg, Va.) and junior guard Andrew Dellinger (Mauertown, Va.) had nine and two, respectively.