January 19, 2008

Boxscore

DUE WEST, S.C.—Trailing by one-point with 11 seconds left in regulation, senior forward Bradley Hippolyte (Brooklyn, N.Y.) converted on an old-fashion three-point play to lift visiting St. Andrews Presbyterian College to a 53-51 Conference Carolinas men’s basketball victory over host Erskine College on Saturday afternoon.

The Knights, 3-12 overall and 2-6 in the league, snap a four-game losing streak while the Flying Fleet fell to 5-8 and 1-6.

Erskine held a three-point lead in the final 90 seconds but a senior Marcus Hoke (Charlotte, N.C.) basket closed the gap to one in the final minute. The Fleet missed an attempt on the ensuing play and junior Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) came down with the big defensive board setting up the game-winning heroics by Hippolyte. Phillips drove and then tipped a loose ball to Hippolyte, who then made the layup while being fouled to catapult the Knights into the lead. Hippolyte made the free throw to give SAPC a two-point lead with 11 seconds left and the Fleets last-second three-point attempt was off the mark.

Both teams shot 41-percent for the game and committed 12 turnovers apiece, while Erskine held narrow 28-27 edge on the boards in an even game that the Knights found a way to win.

St. Andrews scored the first two hoops of the game and controlled most of the first half. The Knights held a 12-7 lead before a 6-0 run by Erskine gave the hosts their only lead of the first half, 13-12. An 8-0 rally capped by a pair of made free throws made by Phillips extended the Knights lead to their largest of the opening frame, 20-13. The Flying Fleet got back to within one twice late but a three-pointer by Hoke in the final seconds gave St. Andrews a four-point advantage, 27-23, at halftime.

The Knights took a lead into the intermission by hitting five shots from behind the arc. Sophomore Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) led all scorers into the locker room with 10 points including a trio of treys. Hoke followed with a pair of buckets from behind the arc.

SAPC had the hotter hand in the first half, shooting 42.8-percent compared to 37.5% by EC, but were out rebounded, 19-13.

In a close second half, Erskine held its largest lead at 46-41 with six minutes left. The Knights responded with the next six points to regain the lead, 47-46, but a pair of baskets put Erskine on top by three heading into the final 90 seconds but were held scoreless in that decisive stretch.

Poe and freshman Zack Garst (Huntersville, N.C.) led the Knights offensively with 12 points apiece while Hoke and Hippolyte each had eight points. Senior Gripper Joseph Gripper (Charlotte, N.C.) added seven points. Garst just missed his first collegiate double-double with a game-high nine rebounds. Phillips dished out a game-high four assists.

Brandon Wright led all scorers with 17 points for the Flying Fleet including four 3-pointers. Wright, the only Eskine player in double-digits, also led his team with six boards.

St. Andrews next hosts Conference Carolinas foe Limestone College on Monday at 7:30 p.m.