Box Score
Box score
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Tusculum took advantage of a five-minute
first half scoring drought to build a double-digit lead and went on
to defeat Anderson, 85-58, in South Atlantic Conference action,
Tuesday night at Pioneer Arena.
Anderson fell to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference with its
third consecutive loss, while Tusculum (5-2, 2-1 SAC), which
returned all five starters from last season, won its third straight
home game of the season, while earning its first win over the
Trojans since the 2007-08 campaign.
The Trojans, who entered the contest with four players averaging
double figures over the last two games, saw junior guard Lex Davis
lead the way offensively by equaling his career-high with 12
points. Sophomore guard Maurice Howard added 11 points, including
eight in the decisive first half, while handing out three assists
and recording three steals. Howard, Tre' Fields and freshman
Randall Shaw shared team-high rebounding honors with four
apiece.
Tusculum senior guard Darius Carter led all players with 14 points,
with Preseason First-Team All-SAC selection Chase Mounce adding 13
points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Zach Davis tossed in 12 points
for the Pioneers, while Zach Hartle netted 10 points.
The game featured three ties and five lead changes in the first
eight minutes of action, before Hartle connected on back-to-back
jumpers, including a 3-pointer that gave the Pioneers a 17-12 lead
with 11:19 left in the first half. With Tusculum holding a 21-15
lead, Fields drained one of his two 3-pointers on the night to pull
AU within three midway through the frame, but the Trojans then went
scoreless for nearly six minutes, enabling Tusculum to post 10
unanswered points and gradually build a 39-24 halftime cushion.
The Trojans' shooting woes continued into the second half, which
saw Anderson connect on just 2-of-14 attempts from long range. The
Trojans also suffered their largest rebounding deficit of the
season, as Tusculum claimed a 49-30 advantage on the boards.
A pair of free throws from Davis pulled AU within 13 early in
the second frame, but the Trojans would get no closer, with
Tusculum taking a 31-point with more than six minutes left in the
game.
The Trojans wrap up their two-game South Atlantic Conference
road swing by traveling to Newberry on Saturday. Tip-off versus the
Wolves is slated for 4 p.m.