Friday, November 21, 2003

BLUE HOSE DEFEAT ERSKINE COLLEGE 69-59
Drum leads PC with 16 points

DUE WEST, S.C. -- Presbyterian outscored Erskine 21-3 over an 11-minute period in the second half and ruined the Flying Fleet`s opening game with a 69-59 victory Friday.

The Blue Hose, scoring their first victory after two losses, trailed 43-40 with 14;15 remaining but reeled off 12 consecutive points for a 52-46 lead with 7:23 left. Erskine guard Bobby Isom, who led both teams with 23 points, connected on a 3-point basket to cut the margin to 52-46 with 6:29 remaining, but Presbyterian scored nine unanswered points to take its biggest lead at 61-46 with 2;49 to play.

Tray Ballenger led the Presbyterian rally with a pair of 3-point baskets, including the trey that put the Blue Hose ahead to stay at 45-43. Johann Collins had all seven of his points in the second half, including a pair of key put-backs.

Michael Drum had 16 points, Andrew Dellinger 13, and Ballenger 11 for the Blue Hose. Backing up Isom`s 23-point effort for the Fleet were Matt Odom and Idris Mayo with 11 points each. The Fleet had led at half, 31-30, on an Isom 3-pointer at the buzzer, and stretched its lead to as much as five points early in the second half before the Presbyterian rally.

The Blue Hose took the game from the free throw line, where they outscored Erskine, 21-6. Erskine outebounded the Hose, 32-30, with Craig Williams grabbing nine and Mayo eight. Drum had nine rebounds for the Blue Hose.

Erskine will play at Allen Monday at 7:30 p.m.