March 30, 2007

Courtesy: Mars Hill Sports Information Office

MARS HILL, NC-- Carson-Newman College placed five players in double-figures in scoring as the Eagles defeated Mars Hill College (8-20) 99-88 in the first round of the 2007 Food Lion SAC Tournament. C-N (10-18) advances to the quarterfinals to face No. 1 seeded Catawba College on Wednesday night.

Deonte Williams led C-N with 16 points and eight rebounds followed by Scott Williams and second team All-SAC selection Kente Hart who scored 15 points apiece. Darren Williams and Andy Tipton scored 13 and 12 points in the contest, respectively, to round out the double-figure scorers. Tipton added a double-double with 10 rebounds.

P.J. Gore scored his career high 28 points to lead the Lions. Tony Blake came off the bench to score 15 while Jamison McIver added 11. Thomas Moses and Chris Aline recorded 10 points apiece. Aline also had a double-double with 12 boards.

The first half saw nine lead changes and four ties before C-N took a 51-50 lead into the locker room at the intermission. MHC shot 57.9% (22-38) from the floor in the first frame.

The Lions shooting cooled off in the second half as they converted on only 32.3% (10-31) of their field goals. After MHC took a 67-66 lead with 12:03 left in the game, C-N out scored the Lions 9-0 to take an eight-point advantage (75-67) with 10:06 on the clock after Clay Scott hit a shot the lane.

MHC then went on a 18-to-12 run to trim the deficit to just two points (87-85) with 4:02 left in the contest after Gore hit a high percentage shot in the lane. C-N answered by out scoring MHC 9-to-1 to seal the win and take a 10 point lead with 1:07 on the clock after Hart hit a pair of free throws.