February 2, 2008

Boxscore

BANNER ELK, N.C.—St. Andrews Presbyterian College junior Joseph Gripper and senior Marcus Hoke -- both Charlotte, N.C., natives -- led all scorers with 23 and 18 points, respectively, but host Lees-McRae College was able to hold on for a 68-64 Conference Carolinas men’s basketball victory on Saturday afternoon.

Hoke hit a three-pointer in the final minute to pull the Knights (5-15 overall; 4-9 Conference Carolinas) to within one but Nick DeSchepper sealed the victory for the Bobcats (4-15; 3-10) by hitting his own three-pointer with seven seconds left to give the hosts a four-point victory.

Lees-McRae avenged a 70-61 loss to SAPC in early January by committing 10 fewer turnovers while receiving a team-high 15 points from DeSchepper and 12 points from Raysean Hairston. All 15 of DeSchepper’s points came on five buckets from behind the arc.

Both clubs made 10 three-pointers with Gripper and Hoke each draining for four treys for the Knights. In an even battle, both squads pulled down 31 rebounds and converted on eight free throws. St. Andrews shot slightly better connecting on 46.9-percent of their shots compared to 43.9% by the Bobcats.

Hoke just missed a double-double by yanking a game-high and season-high nine rebounds. Junior point guard Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) dished out a season-high nine assists.

A Hoke three-pointer midway through the first period gave the Knights a eight point lead, 19-11, but the Bobcats out scored St. Andrews 29-11 over the next eight minutes to take a 10-point lead in the final minute of the opening frame. However, Knights sophomore Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) connected on a triple in the final seconds to cut the halftime deficit to 40-33

St. Andrews tied the game four times in the first nine minutes of the second half but were never able to take the lead. Lees-McRae continued to hold a six-point lead with just under three minutes left in regulation but the Knights were able to edge within one in the final minute by holding the Bobcats without a field goal until DeSchepper hit his clutch three-pointer with seven seconds on the clock.

Gripper added six rebounds, two steals, and two assists to his game-high 23 points. A trio of Knights added six points apiece including Poe, senior Bradley Hippolyte (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and sophomore Ron Deas (Clayton, N.C.). Poe also had four assists.

St. Andrews next hosts league foe Belmont Abbey College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.