Saturday, January 31, 2004

BLUE HOSE WIN DEFENSIVE STRUGGLE OVER INDIANS 55-45
PC’s Drum and Dellinger combine for 30 points in victory

CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College’s sophomore forward Michael Drum (Rural Hall, NC) and senior guard Andrew Dellinger (Mauertown, Va.) combined for 30 points to lead the Blue Hose to a 55-45 victory over the visiting Indians of Newberry College in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ross E. Templeton Center.

PC opened the game on a 7-1 run, but Newberry responded and went on a 9-1 run of their own to take their first lead at 9-8 on a layup by junior center Adam Howell (Seneca, S.C.) at the 11:08 mark. The game would go back and forth over the next few minutes as neither team was able to establish a comfortable lead. The Indians would break a 21-21 tie with a 4-0 run to end the half and take a 25-21 lead into intermission. Both teams struggled from the field in the first half with Newberry shooting 32.3% while Presbyterian shot 35.0%.

In the second half, Newberry went ahead 27-23 on a layup by freshman forward Tommy Burke (Newberry, SC) at the 16:24 mark. The Indians would hold the lead over the next seven minutes until the Blue Hose came back to take their first lead of the second half at 36-34 at 8:29 mark on a three-point field goal by freshman guard Melvin Smith (Roanoke, Va.).

PC would push the lead to six points at 45-39 on an9-5 run over the next five minutes keyed by six points coming from Dellinger and Drum. The Blue Hose would put the game on ice by hitting 10-of-10 free throw attempts in the final minute as they went on to win 55-45.

Drum led the Blue Hose with a game-high 16 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Dellinger added 14 points two assists and three rebounds for the Blue Hose. Sophomore forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.) helped the Blue Hose control the backboards with an 41-30 advantage by pulling down a game-high eight boards.

Newberry was led by senior guard Rashaad Carter (North Charleston, S.C.) who tallied a team-best 15 points to go along with four assists. Redshirt freshman Tymere Zimmerman (Bennettsville, S.C.) added nine points and three boards.

Presbyterian improves to 13-7 on the season and 4-3 in the SAC at the midway point of the regular season. The Blue Hose are in sole possession of third place with seven league games remaining. Newberry falls to 8-10 on the season and 3-4 in league play.