CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian College placed three players in double figures led by senior center Johann Collins' 15 points as the Blue Hose defeated Carson-Newman College 69-67 in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ross E. Templeton Center. The Blue Hose improve to 12-5 overall, 2-1 in the SAC, while Carson-Newman falls to 6-7 overall, 1-2 in league play.
Carson-Newman broke open a closely contested first half with a 11-5 run midway the half to pull ahead 21-14 on a layup by senior guard Milo Johnson (Lake Alford, Fla.) at the 9:21 mark. The Eagle lead increased to its largest margin of nine points at 27-18 with 7:38 remaining on a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Scott Williams (Macon, Ga.). The Blue Hose responded with a 14-5 run the rest of the way, highlighted by six points from senior center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.), to cut the Eagle lead to 32-31 at intermission.
Collins led all scorers with 10 first half points on four-of-eight shooting from the floor, while Carson-Newman's sophomore guard Darren Williams (Lawrenceville, Ga.) paced the Eagles with eight points on six-of-six shooting from the line.
Presbyterian used a 7-5 run to open the second half and retake the lead at 38-37 on a breakaway layup by senior guard Tray Ballenger(Wellford, S.C.) at the 16:32 mark. The lead changed hands three more times over the next three minutes until the Blue Hose claimed the lead for good at 50-47 on a three-pointer by Ballenger at the 12:00 mark. PC's lead would increase to as many as 11 points (64-53), on another breakaway layup by Ballenger with 6:08 remaining in the game. The Eagles would climb back into the game behind a 14-5 run highlighted by five points from junior guard Kente Hart (Evansville, IN) and a pair of three pointers by Johnson and D. Williams as the lead dwindled to 69-67 with :46 seconds remaining. The Eagles had one final shot as time expired, but sophomore forward Andy Tipton's (Maryville, Tenn.) three-pointer fell short of its mark giving the Blue Hose the 69-67 victory.
Joining Collins for Blue Hose scoring honors was Ballenger and freshman guard Bryan Bostic (Norcross, Ga.) who each tallied 11 points apiece. Carson-Newman was led by Darren Williams' 15 points on eight-of-10 shooting from the line, while Milo Johnson added 14 points and nine boards.
The Blue Hose return to action on Wednesday, January 18 by hosting Newberry College at 8:00 pm while Carson-Newman hosts Tusculum College also at 8:00 pm on Wednesday.
