Jan. 13, 2008

Final Stats

MARS HILL, NC - The Lions were out scored 44-31 in the second half to fall to Carson-Newman College, 74-65 in Stanford Arena Saturday evening. The Lions fell to 5-7 overall and 1-1 in the SAC while the Eagles improved to 10-2 on the season and a 3-0 mark in the conference.

The first half saw five ties and two lead changes before MHC took a 34-30 lead into the locker room at the break. C-N connected on only 27.6% (8-29) of their shots from the floor in the initial period.

After four more ties and three additional lead changes, Scott Williams (Macon, GA) gave the Eagles the lead for good at the 6:08 mark by hitting 1-of-2 shots at the charity stripe. The Eagles would then rattle off five unanswered points to lead by six points (65-59) with 5:18 left in regulation after Williams hit a shot from behind the arc. Consecutive layups by Jabreel Moton (Cincinnati, OH) and P.J. Gore (North Myrtle Beach, SC) brought the Lions within two points (65-63) with 3:33 left in the contest but C-N answered with back-to-back baskets by Andy Tipton (Maryville, TN) and Bobby Guyton (Jesup, GA) to extend their advantage back to six points with 2:07 left in regulation. MHC was forced to foul down the stretch and C-N converted 3-of-4 attempts to seal the win.

MHC shot poorly from the charity stripe connecting on only 42.3% (11-26) from the line. MHC also struggled from long range hitting only 13.3% (4-30) of their 3-point shots. MHC out rebounded C-N, 51-41 and scored 38 points in the paint. C-N received 36 points off their bench while the teams combined to score 46 points off the same number of turnovers.

Goble (Lenoir, NC) led MHC with 18 points, seven rebounds and his career high four blocks in the game. Stoney Polite (Morganton, NC) added 12 points while Moton scored 10 in the contest. Moton also tallied a game high nine boards in the game.

Williams came off the bench to lead C-N with 15 points and five rebounds. Zach Hyatte (Dayton, TN) was the only other Eagle in double figures with 10 points. Ten players scored for the Eagles in the game.

C-N will host Wingate University on Wednesday, also at 8 p.m. MHC will play at SAC rival Lenoir-Rhyne College on Wednesday, January 16. Game time is set for a 8 p.m. start.

Courtesy MHC Sports Information