CENTRAL, S.C. - Presbyterian College placed five players in double figures en route to a 72-65 non-conference victory over Southern Wesleyan University in men's basketball action Monday night. The victory earned PC head coach Gregg Nibert his 300th career victory as the Blue Hose improve to 18-6 overall, while the Warriors drop to 15-9.
Nibert, in his 17th season atop the Blue Hose men's basketball program, has compiled a career record of 300-193. He is the program's all-time winningest basketball coach and is one of only three active coaches in the South Atlantic Conference to reach 300 career wins. He is the league's all-time leader in SAC victories (144) and overall wins (300) since the league became an all-sports conference prior to the 1989-90 season.
The Blue Hose shot an impressive 61.5% from the floor in the first half en route to taking a 38-24 lead into halftime. Senior forward Tray Ballenger (Wellford, S.C.) paced Presbyterian with nine first half points on three-of-four shooting from beyond the arc. Redshirt sophomore center Martynas Versinskas (Kaunas, Lithuania) added eight points on four-of-four shooting from beyond the arc. Senior guard Josh Walker (Spartanburg, S.C.) led the Warriors with eight points.
In the second half, the Blue Hose increased the lead to 16 points at 40-24 on a layup by junior guard Quinton Ferrell (N. Augusta, S.C.) at the 18:47 mark. Southern Wesleyan fought back behind a 19-6 run over the next six minutes to trim the lead to 46-43 with 13:14 remaining on a layup by sophomore center Brandon Callihan (Liberty, S.C.).
Presbyterian never relinquished the lead and was able to push it back to double figures at 69-57 at the 4:46 mark on a layup by sophomore Bryan Bostic (Norcross, Ga.). The Warriors put together a 8-0 run with four points coming from Walker to trim the lead to only four points at 69-65 with 2:44 left in the game. The Blue Hose would not allow the Warriors to get any closer as they hit three free throws and did not allow another field goal by Southern Wesleyan to hold on for a 72-65 victory.
Bostic and senior center Johann Collins (Raleigh, N.C.) each tallied 12 points apiece for the Blue Hose, while junior forward Grant Herren(Oviedo, Fla.) added 11 points. Ballenger and Versinskas chipped in 10 points apiece.
Southern Wesleyan was led by Walker's game-high 17 points, while Callihan added 12 points. Junior forward Dealto Marshall (Johnson, S.C.) tallied a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors.
