CLINTON, S.C. - Presbyterian College placed five players in double figures and shot 64.6% from the field en route to a 96-74 victory over Mars Hill College in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ross E. Templeton Center. The game was the league opener for both schools as PC improves to 11-4 overall, 1-0 SAC while Mars Hill falls to 5-7 overall, 0-1 SAC.

The Blue Hose, who led the entire first half, took a 20-13 lead at the 13:15 mark on a three-pointer by sophomore guard Drew Biggs (Alpharetta, Ga.). Mars Hill would trim the lead to three points later in the half (27-24) on a jumper by junior wing Marques Maxwell (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at the 6:50 mark. PC would outscore the Lions 16-8 to end the half and take a 45-32 lead into intermission.

Mars Hill's senior wing Walt Baxley (Winston-Salem, N.C.) would pace all scorers with 16 points on six-of-eight shooting from the line. Maxwell added eight points for the Lions while Presbyterian placed nine different players in the scoring column including eight points off the bench from junior forward Ryan Koppel (Ashburn, Va.). PC's sophomore guard Pat Kiscaden (Oviedo, Fla.) would lead PC in the first half with nine points on three-of-six shooting from beyond the arc.

In the second half, the Blue Hose held their lead throughout as they shot 60.0% from the field and connected on 15-of-18 free throws. Mars Hill cut the lead to its smallest margin of 12 points (73-61) on a layup by junior wing Jamison McIver (Taylorsville, N.C.) at the 9:15 mark. Presbyterian responded by outscoring the Lions 23-13 the rest of the way to take a 96-74 victory.

Senior forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.), senior center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.), and Kiscaden all finished with 14 points apiece for the Blue Hose, while freshman forward Bryan Bostic (Norcross, Ga.) added 13 points. Biggs rounded out the double figures scorers for the Blue Hose with 11 points.

Mars Hill's Baxley, the SAC's leading scorer coming into the game, scored a game-high 33 points on nine-of-20 shooting from the field to go along with four steals. Maxwell came off the bench to score 18 points for the Lions.

The Blue Hose return to action on Wednesday, January 11 with a road game against Wingate University at 8:00 pm while Mars Hill hosts Tusculum College also at 8:00 pm on Wednesday.