Friday, March 5, 2004

NEWBERRY MAKES LATE RUN TO TOP PC
70-62 IN SAC MEN’S TOURNEY

HICKORY, N.C.----The Newberry College men’s basketball team made a crucial 12-0 run late in the second half to take a 70-62 victory over Presbyterian College in the first round of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament at Shuford Gymnasium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne College.

The number four seed, Newberry improves to 15-12 overall. The number five seed, Presbyterian completes the 2004 season 16-12 overall. Newberry will play Mars Hill College in the semi-finals Saturday at the Catawba Valley Community College Multipurpose Complex. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.

The Indians scored 12 unanswered points to take a 62-48 lead (its biggest of the day) on a lay-up by senior guard Rashaad Carter with 3:21 remaining in the contest. The Blue Hose didn’t quit, cutting the margin to five (62-57) on a three-point field goal by freshman guard Melvin Smith with 2:06 to play.

“The way our guys played today shows that we weren’t satisfied with the season we had (to this point),” Newberry College head coach David Conrady said. “We got a taste of success and enjoyed it  . . . we had a great start today. We forced the tempo and forced turnovers.”

Presbyterian would get no closer, as Newberry hit eight-of-10 free throws in the final 1:31 to keep the Blue Hose at bay. Four Indians hit double figures, led by senior forward Brandon Moses and his 15 points. Moses hit back-to-back three-point field goals to give Newberry a 45-38 lead with 9:58 to go.

Newberry sophomore guard Michael Dease contributed 14 points off the bench. Carter hit 12 points, while junior guard Elijah Frasier had 11 points, seven assists and seven steals. Newberry took the lead with 12:14 to play in the first half and never relinquished the advantage.

For Presbyterian, sophomore forward Michael Drum had 15 points, while freshman guard Melvin Smith had 13 points and five assists. Drum and Smith hit three three-point field goals each. Blue Hose freshman forward Grant Herren added 12 points, while sophomore guard Tray Ballenger chipped in 10 points off the bench.

In the first half, Carter hit a floater at the 5:23 mark to give the Indians a 26-17 lead. Newberry matched its nine-point advantage (33-24) on a three-point field goal by freshman forward Tommy Burke with 36 ticks left on the first half clock. The Indians led 33-26 at the break.

Presbyterian hit 69.2 percent (nine-of-13) of its first half field goals, but the Blue Hose made 12 first half turnovers. The Indians converted the PC miscues into eight points in the first frame.