Saturday, January 10, 2004
TUSCULUM WINS SAC OPENER OVER BLUE HOSE, 80-59
The Pioneers shot 55.4 percent on the game, while limiting the SAC's top three-point shooting team to just 4-of-22 from beyond the arc for 18.2 percent, including 1-of-9 (11.1%) in the second half.
Hawks (Galax, Va.) shot 8-for-9 from the floor and recorded a career-high four steals. Senior Cliff Charles (Newark, N.J.) has yet to miss a shot on the New Year posting his second straight 5-for-5 outing to finish with 13 markers. Charles has made his last 11 field goal attempts dating back to the second half of the Southern Indiana game (Dec. 30, 2003). Tshomba added 13 points off the bench, including three 3-pointers, while junior Bobby Ewing (Owensboro, Ky.) added a trio of three-pointers for his nine points. Junior Greg McIntosh (Indianapolis, Ind.) rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Presbyterian was led by Michael Drum's (Rural Hall, N.C.) 20 points and seven rebounds, while Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.) added eight points in the losing effort. Drum shot 6-for-12 from the floor and 7-for-8 at the free throw line. The Blue Hose shot well from the stripe going 19-for-23 for 82.6 percent.
Tusculum scored the first four points of the game and led by 10 points on five occasions in the opening period, including 30-20 at the 5:45 mark following a Charles' lay-up. The Blue Hose answered with a 6-0 run, including a lay-up and a pair of free throws by Drum to trim the lead to 30-26. TC moved the lead back out to eight points when Hawks knocked down a pair of his 10 markers in the second half. But PC responded with a basket by Drum and Grant Herren's (Oviedo, Fla.) jumper with 24 seconds left to trail by four at intermission.
TC scored the first six points of the period, including a 3-pointer by Jonathon Shepherd (Casino, Australia) with the shot clock running down. The Pioneers made their first 10 shots of the half to put the game out of reach.
The Pioneers will host Catawba College Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at Alpine Arena. The Blue Hose will be on the road Wednesday when they travel to Wingate University for an 8 p.m. contest at Cuddy Arena.