GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Limestone University Men's Basketball Team (7-8, 4-7 SAC) established a 10-point halftime lead, then pulled away in the second stanza to defeat Emory & Henry University (4-11, 2-9 SAC) in South Atlantic Conference play Sunday afternoon. The Saints defeated the Wasps by a 91-72 final score. The game was rescheduled from Saturday due to inclement weather in the area.
The Basics
FINAL SCORE – Limestone 91, Emory & Henry 72
LOCATION – Gaffney, South Carolina
VENUE – Timken Center
RECORDS – Emory & Henry (4-11, 2-9 SAC); Limestone (7-8, 4-7 SAC)
How It Happened
- The Wasps began the game hot as they ran out to a 7-2 advantage of the opening two and a half minutes of play, forcing a Limestone timeout. The two teams traded buckets through the next seven minutes and E&H clung to a 16-15 lead with 12:32 on the clock. The score stood level at 22-22, but the Saints would utilize a 14-2 run over the following seven and a half minutes to push the margin out to 12 at 36-24. Each team would add a pair of buckets down the stretch and the home team took the 40-30 advantage into the locker room.
- LU picked up where it left off to begin the second frame, beginning the half on a quick 10-3 run to balloon the margin out to 50-33. Another run through the middle of the half saw the home team increase its lead out to its largest of the game at 70-41 with 10:47 remaining. The Wasps managed to pull back within 16, but that was as close as they would get as the Saints took the win by a 91-72 margin.
Emory & Henry Individual Leaders
- Sophomore guard Jackson Crawford (Daleville, Va.) led the offensive effort with 17 points, three assists and a rebound. Senior guard Jalen Leftwich (Lynchburg, ,Va.) added 12 points, five boards and an assist off of the bench.
- Freshman guard Korbin Dixon (Milton, Ontario, CANADA) posted 10 points, six rebounds and three assists while junior forward Assad Madassalia (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with eight points, four blocked shots, three rebounds and an assist.
Limestone Individual Leaders
- Sirr Hughes led all scorers with 23 points, five rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals. Trevon Payton registered 22 points and five rebounds while Greg McKay had a double-double with 11 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, one steal and a block.
- Railer Varges had 11 points, five rebounds, one assist and a block off of the bench. Isayah Owens went for 10 points, three assists and a pair of steals in the win.
A Deeper Look
- Limestone shot 34-for-65 (52.3%) from the field and 10-for-29 (34.5%) from deep. E&H finished shooting 40.3% (27-for-67) overall and 29.6% (8-for-27) from beyond the three-point line.
- LU outrebounded the Wasps by a 42-34 margin, but E&H capitalized with 17 second-chance points compared to 11 for the home team.
- The Saints tallied a 44-36 advantage on points scored in the paint and outpaced the Wasps, scoring 19 points on the fastbreak while E&H managed just two.
- Limestone won the turnover battle, forcing 10 mistakes that they converted into 18 points. Emory & Henry forced eight miscues, but only turned those into six points on the offensive end.
Up Next
- Emory & Henry is back at home on Wednesday, January 15 when they host the Lions of Mars Hill University. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the John Rutledge King Center.
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