Wednesday, January 21, 2003  

PRESBYTERIAN DEFEATS MARS HILL 78-69 IN 
MEN'S BASKETBALL ACTION
Collins scores 19 points and adds 9 rebounds in victory

MARS HILL, NC – Johann Collins (Raleigh, NC) scored 19 points and the Blue Hose hit 58.5% (24-41) of their field goals to leave Stanford Arena with a 78-69 South Atlantic Conference victory on Wednesday night.  Presbyterian improved to 6-5 in the SAC and 15-9 overall.  MHC fell to 3-8 in the league and 9-15 overall.

Collins hit a layup 56 seconds into the game and Presbyterian never relinquished the lead.  PC led by as many as 13 points with 7:52 left in the first half after Andrew Dellinger (Mauertown, VA) hit a jumper.  PC went into the locker room at halftime ahead 34-23.  PC hit 63.6% (14-22) of their field goals in the first frame.

MHC made a serious run at the Blue Hose to open the second stanza going on a 10-to-1 run to trim the deficit to just two points (35-33) with 14:39 left in regulation after Kirby Lee (Fort Mill, SC) converted an old fashioned 3-point play.  After a PC timeout, the Blue Hose went on a 15-to-6 run to take a 11-point lead (50-39) with 9:41 remaining in the contest after Dellinger hit a shot from behind the arc.  MHC cut the lead to six points with 8:49 on the clock after Walt Baxley hit a couple of free throws but that was as close as the Lions would come.

Collins added nine rebounds to go along with his team high 19 points.  Dellinger added 14 points and Michael Drum (Rural Hall, NC) came off the bench to score 12 points.

Ronald Lewis (New Orleans, LA) led all scorers with 21 points.  He also tallied five assists and three steals.  Baxley and Richie Covington (Georgetown, KY) scored 12 points apiece while Lee added 10.  Covington also pulled down eight rebounds in the loss.

Mars Hill will close out their home schedule on Saturday hosting Wingate University at 4:00 p.m.  Presbyterian will host Lenoir-Rhyne at 4:00 p.m.