CLINTON, S.C. – Three Presbyterian Blue Hose scored in double figures, but the Blue Hose (0-1) lost to the St. Thomas Tommies (1-0), 87-78, in their season opener in the Templeton Center on Monday night.
Triston Wilson scored 19 points and dished out six assists.
Jaylen Peterson scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
EJ Smith scored 18 points off the bench.
HOW IT HAPPENED
FIRST HALF – Peterson scored Presbyterian's first two points of the season on a dunk 45 seconds into the game. The Blue Hose began the game scoring six of the first eight points, taking a 6-2 lead after
Carl Parrish connected on a layup two minutes into the contest. Then, St. Thomas scored seven straight points, taking a 9-6 lead. Smith would tie the score at 11 with a three from the wing at the 14:55 mark. The Blue Hose would move into the lead, 16-14 after two free throws from Wilson at the 12:32 mark. The lead would exchange hands a few times with a couple of ties over the next six minutes. With 6:01 on the clock,
Iverson King knocked down a three from the wing, giving the Blue Hose a 27-24 lead. St. Thomas ended the half on a 14-9 run, taking a 38-36 halftime lead. Smith knocked down a three from the wing with seven seconds on the clock for the Blue Hose, scoring the final points of the half.
SECOND HALF – St. Thomas began the half on a 12-1 scoring run, taking a 50-37 lead at the 15:21 mark. With 10:45 on the clock, St. Thomas led Presbyterian, 61-49; threes from Smith and King got the Blue Hose within six, 61-55. With seven and a half minutes on the clock, Smith converted on a layup, cutting St. Thomas's lead to 64-59. The Tommies scored eight of the next nine points, pushing their lead to 72-60. Presbyterian was able to cut the St. Thomas lead to seven points a couple of times, but that would be as close as they would get the rest of the game.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Smith shot 7-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 beyond the three-point arc on his way to his 18 points.
- Wilson's 19 points marked his 21st career double-figure scoring game.
- Peterson's 18 points marked his 21st career double-figure scoring game.
- Presbyterian scored 34 points in the paint and 30 points off the bench.
NEXT GAME
Presbyterian begins a two-game road swing at SEC foe Georgia this Friday, November 6 at 7 p.m.
