CLINTON, S.C. – A balanced offensive attack behind five double-figure scorers led the Presbyterian Blue Hose (11-10, Big South: 4-2) past the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (11-10, Big South: 2-4) for their third straight win.

Jonah Pierce led the Blue Hose with 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field while grabbing eight rebounds with three assists and three steals. Carl Parrish scored 20 points. Josh Pickett scored 17 points while connecting on three three-point field goals. Triston Wilson scored 12 points. Jaylen Peterson recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Presbyterian finished the game with an 18-3 advantage in fast break points.

HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Pierce got the Blue Hose on the board after converting on a fast break layup. With CSU leading 4-2, PC, behind the scoring of Pierce and Wilson, scored eight of the next 10 points, taking an early 10-6 lead. CSU's Brycen Blaine connected on a three cutting PC's lead to one point. Then, the Blue Hose went on an 8-0 run, taking a 19-8 lead after a driving layup from Jaylen Peterson with 12:06 on the clock. Charleston Southern cut PC's lead to 23-17 with 7:23 left in the half, Presbyterian's Carl Parrish scored five straight points, and after two free throws from Khalon Hudson, the Blue Hose held their largest lead, 30-17, with 4:43 on the clock. Charleston Southern scored 12 of the half's final 20 points, cutting Presbyterian's halftime lead to 38-29.


SECOND HALF – The two teams exchanged baskets for the first seven and a half minutes of the half. Parrish knocked down a three with 11:44 on the clock, ending the two teams exchanging baskets and pushing the Blue Hose in front 54-42.  With 9:38 on the clock, Presbyterian connected on a three from the top of the key, giving the Blue Hose a 62-48 lead. Presbyterian pushed its lead to 15 points a couple of times. With two and a half minutes left in the game, Presbyterian led 78-68 after a free throw from Pickett. Charleston Southern would outscore  Presbyterian 15-8, cutting PC's lead to 86-83, with two seconds on the clock. Pickett closed out the game with a free throw with one second left, making Presbyterian's final margin of victory, 87-83.  

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Presbyterian shot 54.7 percent (29-53) from the field.
• Pierce's 21 points marked his sixth 20-point scoring game of the season.
• Parrish's 20 points were his fourth 20-point scoring game of the season.
• Pickett tallied his fifth double-figure scoring game of the season with his 17 points.
• Wilson's 12 points was his eighth double-figure scoring game of the season.
• Peterson's double-double was his second of the season and the 12^th double-double performance by a Blue Hose this season.
• Chidi Chiakwelu blocked four shots, which marked his sixth multiple blocks game of the season. 

 
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian finishes its two-game homestand against the Winthrop Eagles in the Templeton Center this Saturday, January 24, at 4:30 p.m.