MARS HILL, N.C. --- Mars Hill's Carter Wright scored 24 points including a pair of free throws in the final seconds of the game to clinch a 76-72 South Atlantic Conference win over visiting Tusculum Saturday afternoon at Stanford Arena in men's basketball action.
The Lions (4-20, 1-15 SAC) snapped a 14-game losing streak while capturing its first conference win of the year. The victory also ended an 18-game SAC losing skid for Mars Hill, dating back to last year.
MHC place five players in double-figure scoring as Carter went 9-of-18 from the floor, including four 3-pointers.
MHC's Khouraichi Thiam posted his 15th double-double on the year with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Tusculum (6-18, 4-12 SAC) was led by Neal Spinks as he matched a season-best with his 16 markers on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Darius Carter posted his third game in double figures with 15 points. Addison Flynn added 14 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from three-point territory. Nick Spinks finished with 13 points, while Keith Jumper added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
In the first half, neither team led by more than five points during the first 13 minutes of play. A Myles Tate 3-pointer gave the Lions their largest lead of the period of eight points (33-25) with 5:42 left in the first frame. Tusculum went on a 12-6 run to close out the half and send the teams into the locker room at halftime with MHC ahead, 39-37.
A Kacey Holt jumper at the 15:44 mark gave the Lions a one-point lead (48-47) they would not relinquish. After leading by seven points (64-57) with 10:03 on the clock, the Pioneers scored seven unanswered points to tie the contest at 64-64. The Lions outscored Tusculum, 10-3 over the next seven minutes to lead 74-67 with 2:44 left in regulation after Wright hit a three-pointer.
Flynn 3-pointer trimmed the Lions lead to just two points (74-72) with 1:07 on the clock. Will White missed a 3-pointer and Tusculum had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Nick Spinks' long range jumper missed its mark. The Pioneers regained the ball after it deflected off a MHC defender and with 17 seconds left as the Pioneers called timeout. Darius Carter missed his attempt with eight seconds left and Thiam corralled the rebound. Wright was fouled after receiving the in-bounds pass and sank a pair of free throws to make the final tally, 76-72.
Tusculum shot well from the field (53.8%) and out-rebounded the Lions by a 34-28 margin. But the Pioneers shot a season-low 10-of-22 from the free throw line (45.5%), including 6-of-14 in the second half (42.9%).
Tusculum returns to Pioneer Arena on Wednesday for its home finale, hosting Newberry for an 8 p.m. contest. Wednesday is "Senior Night" and the final home contest for Nick Spinks and Anton Tuz.
- TC -
