Saturday,
December 6, 2003
BLUE HOSE UPSET #10 QUEENS 54-51
TO WIN
15th ANNUAL
PC's
Dellinger named MVP & Ballenger selected All-Tourney
CHARLOTTE,
N.C.—The
Presbyterian College men’s basketball team made the number
10 Queens University of Charlotte team play its game as the
Blue Hose prevailed 54-51 in the championship game of the 15th
annual Sodexho Classic, hosted by Queens University of
Charlotte at the Ovens Athletic Center on the Queens campus.
The
contest featured two teams that advanced deep into the 2003
NCAA Division II men’s basketball championships.
Presbyterian (5-3 overall) made it to the Sweet 16 before
falling to Bowie State (Md.) University, while Queens (4-1
overall) climbed to the Final Four.
The
Blue Hose took the lead for keeps when sophomore center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) hit an inside hoop at the 4:31 mark
to make it 45-44 Presbyterian. The Collins hoop started a 6-0
run that ended when PC Sophomore forward Michael
Drum (Rural Hall, N.C.) hit two free throws at the 3:12
plateau, making it 49-44 Blue Hose. The All-SAC performer also
contributed a lay-up to the crucial run.
|
PC's Andrew Dellinger named Tourney MVP of the Marriott Classic |
Drum
led the Blue Hose with 12 points, eight rebounds and five
steals. Presbyterian freshman center Grant
Herren (Oviedo, Fla.) added 10 points. The Blue Hose will
host Allen (S.C.) University Monday night at 7 p.m.
Queens
All-American senior guard Spencer
Ross hit a three-pointer at the 2:52 mark to pull the hosts
within two at 49-47. Sodexho Classic MVP Andrew
Dellinger (Mauertown, Va.) answered the call for
Presbyterian, nailing a triple of his own to make it 52-47
with 1:27 to play. |
|
Blue
Hose sophomore guard Tray
Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.) joined the senior guard
Dellinger on the all-tourney team. Ballenger had eight points
and five rebounds in the upset win over the number 10 Royals. Ross
hit a jumper with one minute remaining to make it 52-49
Presbyterian. After a Blue Hose miss, Queens junior guard B.J.
Timmons hit a coast-to-coast lay-up to pull the Royals
within one (52-51) with 22 seconds left. |
PC's Tray Ballenger named All-Tourney team |
Drum
concluded the scoring with two free throws one second later.
He put an exclamation point on the festivities with a steal at
the buzzer after a Queens turnover. The Blue Hose scored 21
points off 22 Royal turnovers. In addition, Presbyterian
out-rebounded Queens 38-25.
Ross
led all scorers with 18 points. Timmons chipped in 10 markers.
Queens hit only six-of-20 three point field goals. They hit
nine-of-16 triples in Friday night’s win over Wingate.
Queens
had not lost a regular season game at home since a CVAC
setback to Anderson (S.C.) College on Feb. 21, 2002.
Presbyterian played typical Blue Hose basketball, working the
ball and using the shot clock to its advantage.
In
the first half, Queens took a 24-15 lead on a steal and lay-up
by Ross at the 7:39 mark. The nine-point bulge was the
hosts’ biggest lead of the contest. Queens led 30-25 at
intermission, thanks to 10 first-half points by Ross.