Saturday, February 7, 2004

TUSCULUM HOLDS OFF BLUE HOSE FOR 80-73 SAC 
MEN’S BASKETBALL WIN

CLINTON, S.C. — Tusculum College’s senior Cliff Charles (Newark, N.J.) and junior Andrew Harmon (Germantown, Tenn.) combined for 42 points to lead the Pioneers to a 80-73 win over host Presbyterian College in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in the Ross E. Templeton Center.

Charles scored 19 points while Harmon led the team with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field as the Pioneers shot 52.7% from the field for the game. Tusculum improves to 16-4 overall and 7-1 in the SAC while Presbyterian falls to 13-8 overall and 4-4 in league play.

The Pioneers took an early 12-6 lead in the first half as junior guard Jonathon Shepherd (Casino, Australia) scored five points in the opening minutes. The lead increased to double figures at 28-16 at the 7:47 mark on a free throw from junior forward Brad Hawks (Galax, Va.). Tusculum extended the lead to 21 points at 45-24 on a 17-8 run over the next six minutes. PC’s sophomore center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) layup trimmed to the lead to 45-26 as time expired in the half.

The Pioneers shot 60.7% from the field in the first half while holding Presbyterian to 45.5%. Charles and Harmon combined for 24 of Tusculum’s 45 first half points.

In the second half, Tusculum pushed the lead to its largest margin at 22 points (50-28) at the 18:28 mark before the Blue Hose fought back and used a 19-4 run over the next eight minutes to cut the lead to 56-47 with 10:55 remaining. Five different players for the Blue Hose scored during the run with five points coming from sophomore forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.).

Tusculum regained the momentum and pushed the lead back to double figures at 72-57 on a layup by Hawks with 4:08 remaining in the game. The Blue Hose made one more run and cut the lead to 74-68 with 2:11 remaining on a 11-2 run highlighted by a pair of three-pointers by senior guard Andrew Dellinger (Mauertown, Va.). Tusculum hit six-of-eight free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Joining Charles and Harmon for scoring honors was Shepherd who added 14 points off the bench.

PC was led by Ballenger who tallied 13 points and 11 rebounds while Dellinger added 13 points. Sophomore forward Michael Drum (Rural Hall, N.C.) added 10 points, six rebounds, and six assists for the Blue Hose.