Davon Bell scored 22 points, while Adam Flagler finished with 21, to lead the Presbyterian College men's basketball team to the 85-70 win over Hampton in Big South action Wednesday evening at the Templeton Center in Clinton, S.C. PC moves to 6-2 on the season at home is now just one shy of last year's overall win total.
Scoring the Game
The first three of five Blue Hose baskets were three-pointers as the home team jumped out to an eight-point, 13-5 lead just four minutes into the game. Four minutes later and trailing by six, Hampton went on an 8-2 run to cut the margin to one, 20-21, 9:26 left in the half. PC used baskets by Romeo Crouch and Cory Hightower to go ahead by five with just under nine left.
The Pirates and Blue Hose traded baskets the next several minutes with PC responding quickly to every Hampton rally attempt. The visitors cut the lead to two on a couple of occasions, the last time off a Jermaine Marrow three-pointer at 4:11 to cap a 6-2 run to bring the score to 33-35. PC outscored the Pirates 7-2 over the next two and a half minutes to take the lead back to seven. Hampton made it a five-point game off a Marrow lay-up but two free throws by Bell in the final second gave the home team the 44-47 lead at the break.
After Marrow led off the second half with a three-pointer, PC rattle off six unanswered to give Blue Hose its first double-digit lead of the game, 50-40, 17:37 left. The Pirates cut the lead to five, 52-47, with 16:15 on the clock. PC responded with a 10-2 run to jump back out to a double-digit lead, 62-49, 11:05 to go.
Nine unanswered by Hampton, which included five straight from Lysander Bracey, put the Pirates back in the game, trailing by just four, 58-62, 7:12 remaining. It was short-lived as a 9-2 run by PC gave the home team an 11-point lead again, 71-60, 3:20 to go. It would not get any lower as a Flagler three-pointer with 16 on the clock helped seal the 15-point, 85-70 win.
Players of the Game
Davon Bell was just five shy of his career-high with 22 points on the night. He also recorded a season-high eight rebounds in the win. Adam Flagler finished close behind with 21 points and eight rebounds. Romeo Crouch finished with a career-high 16 points, off a career-best four three-pointers, to round out PC's double-digit scorers. Jermaine Marrow and Kalin Fisher scored 15 apiece to lead Hampton.
Stats of the Game
A strong offensive half by both teams, PC posted 53.3% from the field and recorded six three-pointers in the opening stanza, while Hampton came away with 48.1% and four threes. For the game PC shot 48.3%, and finished with 10 three-pointers, compared to 44.3% and seven threes for Hampton. PC held the slight 38-34 edge in rebounds and had two more turnovers, 13-11. Free throws played a role down the stretch with Hampton connecting on seven-of-22, PC 17-of-23.
Notables
- Second game this season PC has had at least two 20-point scorers, the last was at Dayton (Lewis, 20; Flagler, 20).
- PC has now won four in a row at home, and hold a 6-2 mark.
- 12th game of the season with at least 10 three-pointers.
- Romeo Crouch tied his career-high with 16 points and recorded a career-best four three-pointers.
- Adam Flagler pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.
For the Record
PC improves to 10-9 overall and 2-2 in the Big South, while Hampton drops to 7-9, 2-1.
Up Next
The Blue Hose round out a two-game home stand with Longwood, Saturday, Jan. 19, with tip-off slated for 4 p.m.
