NACOGDOCHES, Texas.  – Behind five double-figure scorers and a dominant defensive performance, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (4-3) cruised past the Youngstown State Penguins (2-3), 67-42, in the Axe-Em Classic at Stephen F. Austin University on Friday afternoon.
 
Jonah Pierce scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Kory Mincy scored 12 points. Kaleb Scott and Kobe Stewart both scored 11 points and grabbed eight boards apiece. Iverson King rounded out Presbyterian's double-figure scorers with 10 points.
 
The Blue Hose defense limited a Youngstown State team, who scored 95 points against Syracuse earlier this season, to a season-low 42 points. PC's defense held the Penguins to 27 percent shooting from the field (16-for-59) and 22 percent (6-for-27) from beyond the three-point arc.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Youngstown State scored the game's first six points. Then, Presbyterian went on an 11-4 run taking an 11-10 lead when Pierce scored inside with 10:17 on the clock. Scott, Mincy, and Stewart also scored during PC's scoring run. With six minutes left in the half, Presbyterian led 16-14. The Blue Hose closed the half on a 12-2 scoring run taking a 28-16 halftime lead after Pierce converted on two free throws with two seconds left in the half. King, Scott, and Stewart also scored for the Blue Hose during that stretch.
 

SECOND HALF – The Blue Hose scored 11 of the first 13 points of the half taking a 39-18 lead after Pierce scored inside at the 15:36 mark. Pierce scored seven points and Stewart scored Presbyterian's other four points during the early second half scoring run. Youngstown State cut PC's lead to 17 points but after five straight points by Scott, Presbyterian's lead ballooned to 22, 46-24, with 12:37 on the clock. Youngstown State was not able to get any closer to the Blue Hose. The Blue Hose scored the final seven points of the game making their final margin of victory, 67-42, after a dunk from Stewart with one minute on the clock.
 

NOTES

• Pierce recorded his second 20-point scoring game of the season and his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season with his 20 points.
• Mincy's 12 point scoring output was his sixth double-figure scoring game of the season and the 12^th of his career.
• Scott collected his first double-figure scoring game of the season with his 11 points.
• Stewart tallied his fourth double-figure scoring game of the season and the 25^th of his career with his 11 points.
• King's 10 points was his second double-digit scoring output of the season.
• Presbyterian had a 36-18 advantage on points in the paint and a 24-10 advantage in bench points.

 
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian concludes play in the Axe'Em Classic at Stephen F. Austin University against Monmouth on Saturday, November 23 at noon.