January 3, 2008

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, N.C.—Senior Marcus Hoke (Charlotte, N.C.) scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half to lead host St. Andrews Presbyterian College past visiting UNC Pembroke, 62-44, in non-conference men’s basketball action on Thursday night in Harris Court.

The Knights (1-8) ended an eight-game losing streak to start the season while the Braves (6-3) saw their three-game win streak snapped.

Hoke has had two big performances against Pembroke this season scoring 28 points against the Braves in the first meeting on November 25. Hoke scored 24 points in the first half (including eight three-pointers) but was held to four points in the second half as UNCP erased a 20-point deficit and won the game.

Hoke would not let that happen again leading the Knights to second half comeback victory on Thursday in the first game of 2008 for both squads. After a senior Bradley Hippolyte (Brooklyn, N.Y.) lay-up put the Knights back on top 25-24 with 18 minutes left in the game, Hoke hit three consecutive free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt which helped ignited a 13-0 SAPC run that put away Pembroke.

St. Andrews continued to play strong down the stretch making seven steals in the second half while shooting 48.3-percent in the final 20 minutes to pull away to the 18-point victory. St. Andrews built its lead to as many as 22 (62-40) late in the contest.

Pembroke was held to 38.0% shooting for the game. The Knights also kept the Braves from the charity stripe as UNCP only took three shots from the free throw line (missing all three) while SAPC converted on 14-of-19 attempts.

UNC Pembroke held a six-point lead in the first half but St. Andrews held the visitors scoreless in the final five minutes to rally back and take the lead before the intermission. Hippolyte scored six of the Knights points in the 8-0 run to finish the period to give St. Andrews a 21-19 advantage at halftime.

Senior Joseph Gripper (Charlotte, N.C.) helped the Knights control the boards, 34-27, by pulling down a team-high seven rebounds. The six-foot, eight-inch duo of freshman Zack Garst (Huntersville, N.C.) and junior Thurl Bailey (Greensboro, N.C.) also crashed the glass for the Knights with six and five rebounds, respectively.

Hoke and sophomore Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) each hit a trio of three-points for SAPC. Hoke led all scorers with 19 points while Poe added 11 and Hippolyte bucketed 10. Junior Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) dished out five assists for the Knights while Hoke provided four. Gripper had a team-high four steals with his eight points.

The Braves also had three players reach double digits in scoring including a team-high 13 from senior Jonathan Hart (Roselle, N.J.). Juniors Cortez Brown (Charlotte, N.C.) and Demarcus Lyday (Wichita, Kan.) followed with 11 and 10, respectively. Senior Jarrell Hunter (Charlotte, N.C.) had a team-high seven rebounds while junior John Keimig (Middletown, Md.) handed out a game-high six assists.

St. Andrews will return to Conference Carolinas play on Saturday when they host Lees-McRae College at 4:00 p.m. UNC Pembroke visits Peach Belt foe Armstrong Atlantic State University on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.