Saturday, January 3, 2004

BLUE HOSE ROLL PAST RIFLES 80-65 IN MEN’S BASKETBALL ACTION
PC’s Dellinger leads the way with 16 points and 
a career-best eight assists

CLINTON, S.C. — Presbyterian College senior guard Andrew Dellinger (Mauertown, Va.) scored a game-high 16 points to go along with a career-high eight assists to lead the Blue Hose to a 80-65 victory over the visiting Rifles of USC Spartanburg in men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ross E. Templeton Center.

The Blue Hose (8-4) used their patented defense to hold the Rifles without a field goal for almost 10 minutes in the first half and forced 16 turnovers for the game. PC took an early 13-2 lead to open the game highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Dellinger and sophomore forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.). PC held the Rifles without a field goal from the 17:43 mark until junior forward Kevin Harrington (Beckley, WV) broke the drought on a layup at the 7:50 mark. PC push the lead to its largest margin at 23 points (45-22) with :08 remaining in the half. USC Spartanburg’s junior guard Eric Murrell (St. Stephens, S.C.) hit three free throws at the end of the half to trail 45-25 at intermission.

PC shot 68.0% from the field in the first half while holding the Rifles (7-4) to only six-of-19 shooting from the field for 31.6%. Dellinger led the way with 13 points and six assists for PC while Murrell led USC Spartanburg with six points.

In the second half, PC held a double figure lead throughout and led by as many as 23 points at 71-48 at the 7:51 mark left in the game. The Rifles used a 13-9 run to close the game and cut the lead to 80-65 as time expired.

Joining Dellinger for scoring honors was Ballenger with 12 points while freshman center Grant Herren (Oviedo, Fla.) and sophomore center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) each contributed nine points apiece. Freshman guard Sean Dixon (Marietta, Ga.) added eight points and three assists while sophomore forward Michael Drum (Rural Hall, N.C.) chipped in seven points and career-high six assists.

USC Spartanburg was led by Murrell’s team-high 13 points while freshman guard Jay Free  (Boiling Springs, S.C.) came off the bench to add 12 points and junior guard Richie Stevens (Travelers Rest, S.C.) added 10 points.

PC improves to 8-4 on the season and returns to action on Tuesday, January 6 as they face Southern Wesleyan University on the road at 7:00 pm. USC Spartanburg falls to 7-4 and returns to action on Wednesday, January 7 when they open Peach Belt Conference play by hosting intstate rival USC Aiken at 7:30 pm.