GAFFNEY, S.C. --- Limestone University's Sirr Hughes poured in a career-high 32 points to lead the Saints to a 93-80 win over visiting Tusculum University Wednesday night at the Timkin Center in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action.
Hughes followed up his previous career-high in Wednesday's 29-point effort against Catawba as Limestone (9-10, 6-9 SAC) completes the season-sweep over the Pioneers (4-16, 4-12 SAC).
Hughes went 12-of-19 from the field, including 6-of-9 from three-point territory. He dished out five assists and hauled in four rebounds. Trevon Payton added 17 points while the duo of Isayah Owens and Greg McKay contributed 14 markers apiece.
Five Pioneers scored in double-figures led by Bryce Jackson's 17-point effort, while Malachi Hale added 15 points off the bench. Taj Kimber tallied 11 points, while Jason Britton and TJ Printup scored 10 points each as the Pioneers have lost 11 of their last 12 games since November, including seven in a row on the road.
The Saints used runs of 10-0 and 8-0 in the first half to take a 44-30 lead at the intermission. Hughes led the charge with his 17 first half points as he connected on six of his first seven shots, including three 3-pointers.
Meanwhile, Tusculum got off to a sluggish start opening the game 2-of-13 and missed its first seven 3-point attempts as the Pioneers trailed by as many as 18 (39-21) in the first 20 minutes.
Limestone, who never trailed on the evening, extended its lead to as many as 80-55 following a McKay dunk.
The Pioneers battled back and scored 12 unanswered points thanks to a pair of triples from Printup as TU trailed 80-67 with 6:11 left in the game. McKay stopped the run with a dunk, but Tusculum followed with 7-2 spurt including a steal and basket by Kimber as the once 25-point deficit was whittled down to 10 (84-74) with 4:13 to go.
But an Emmanuel Okogie 3-pointer sparked a 9-2 run, while TU went 1-for-5 from the field as the Saints put the game out of reach.
The Saints shot 56 percent from the floor including a blistering 17-of-26 in the second half (65%). LU went 14-of-28 from three-point land and 13-of-16 from the free throw line.
Tusculum went 28-of-69 from the floor and 17-of-21 from the charity stripe. TU tied a school single-game record committing just five turnovers on the night.
Tusculum returns to action on Saturday as the Pioneers travel to Catawba College for a 4 p.m. contest.
