NACOGDOCHES, Texas. – Behind three double-figure scorers and another solid defensive performance, the Presbyterian Blue Hose (5-3) defeated the Monmouth Hawks (0-8), 71-61. With the win, the Blue Hose captured the Axe'Em Classic title with wins over Stephen F. Austin, Youngstown State, and Monmouth.
Axe'Em Classic MVP
Kobe Stewart led the Blue Hose with 17 points while dishing out six assists with five rebounds.
Kory Mincy scored 16 points while grabbing five rebounds. Jamarhi Harvey added 13 points. Stewart, Mincy, and Harvey all connected on three three-point field goals.
Jaylen Peterson grabbed 12 rebounds while scoring eight points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Harvey started the game with a three for the Blue Hose's first points. The lead exchanged hands several times with a couple of ties over the first 15 minutes of the half. At the 4:56 mark with the game tied at 28, Mincy knocked down a three which began a 12-0 scoring run which was capped off with two free throws from Mincy giving the Blue Hose a 40-28 lead with under two minutes on the clock.
Jaylen Peterson, Stewart, and Harvey also scored during the Blue Hose scoring run. Harvey just as he did to start the game ended the half's scoring with a three from the corner at the buzzer giving the Blue Hose a 45-32 halftime lead.
SECOND HALF – Harvey started the second half off like he ended the first half connecting on a jump shot. After a jumper in the lane from Stewart, the Blue Hose led 49-34 with 15:49 on the clock. Monmouth scored seven straight points cutting PC's lead to 49-41 with 14:35 on the clock. Consecutive baskets in the paint from
Iverson King and
Kaleb Scott pushed the Blue Hose back in front by 12 points. Monmouth's Jack Collins, who scored 25 points, connected on a three getting the Hawks to within nine points. Then, Presbyterian scored eight straight points taking a 61-44 lead after Mincy knocked down a three from the top of the key with 8:51 left in the game. PC maintained a double-figures lead for the next seven minutes until Monmouth cut the Blue Hose's lead to 66-57 after going on a 7-0 run with 1:59 on the clock. Timely free throw shooting by Mincy and a fast-break layup by Stewart closed out the Blue Hose's 71-61 win.
NOTES
- Stewart collected his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season and the 26th of his career with his team-high 17 points,
- Harvey's 13 points marked his three double-digit points game this season and 12th in his PC career.
- Peterson with his first career game double-figure rebounds game with his 12 boards.
- Mincy with his eighth double-digit scoring output of the season after scoring 16 points.
- The Blue Hose scored 34 points in the paint.
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian faces Tennessee Tech on the road next Wednesday, November 27 at 2 p.m.
