Saturday, January 22, 2005

BLUE HOSE HOLD OFF LATE BEAR COMEBACK 
FOR 58-56 VICTORY

CLINTON, SC – Presbyterian College sophomore forward Brian Epperly (Roanoke, VA) came off the bench to score 10 points leading the Blue Hose to a 58-56 victory over the visiting Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne College in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in the Ross E. Templeton Center.

The Blue Hose, who led by as many as 14 points midway through the second half, had to hold off a late Bear comeback to seal the victory. Lenoir-Rhyne used an 18-5 run in the final seven minutes to trim the lead to just one point at 57-56 with 20 seconds to play on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Stephen Hinds (Winston-Salem, NC). PC’s junior forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, SC) stepped up to the line and coolly hit one of two free throws with nine seconds remaining while junior center Johann Collins (Raleigh, NC) secured the Bears’ final missed shot to seal the victory.

PC opened the game hitting on all cylinders from the field and jumped out to a 21-9 advantage at the 8:04 mark. The Bears fought back behind an 11-6 run with seven points coming from senior guard Tony Connelly (Charlotte, NC) to trim the lead to 27-20 entering intermission. PC was led in scoring by Epperly and sophomore guard Sean Dixon (Marietta, GA) each scored eight points in the first half. Lenoir-Rhyne was led in scoring by Hinds and Connelly who each tallied seven points prior to intermission.

Joining Epperly for scoring honors with PC was Dixon who tallied 10 points and four rebounds while Collins and sophomore forward Grant Herren (Oviedo, FL) each tallied eight points apiece. Redshirt freshman center Martynas Versinkskas (Kaunas, Lithunaia) played a key role for PC with six points and six boards off the bench as Collins was strapped with foul trouble throughout the game.

Lenoir-Rhyne was paced in scoring by Connelly who tallied a game-high 17 points while Hinds chipped in 14 points and six boards. Freshman forward Josh Kindred (Holly Springs, NC) and sophomore forward David Lawson (Kinston, NC) each added nine points apiece for the Bears.

Presbyterian improves to 11-6 overall and 3-2 in the league while Lenoir-Rhyne falls to 9-8, 3-2 in the SAC. The Blue Hose return to action on Wednesday, January 26 as they host the Pioneers of Tusculum College while the Bears host the Indians of Newberry College on the same night.