February 9, 2008

Boxscore

ANDERSON, S.C.—Freshman forward Zack Garst (Huntersville, N.C.) scored a career-high 20 points for visiting St. Andrews Presbyterian College but host Anderson University finished the game on a 30-12 run in the final 10 minutes for an 84-70 Conference Carolinas men’s basketball victory on Saturday afternoon in the Abney Center.

The Trojans shot 51.5-percent in the second half to improve to 10-12 overall and 8-7 in Conference Carolinas play. Garst scored his game-high 20 points on 10-of-13 accuracy for the Knights, who fell to 5-17 and 4-11.

St. Andrews had the hot hand in the first half connecting of 14-of-27 (51.9%) shots in the opening stanza. Both teams had six point leads in the first 20 minutes but the Knights broke a late tie with a three-pointer by senior Marcus Hoke (Charlotte, N.C.) and a lay-up by sophomore Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) to take a five-point advantage, 34-29, into the intermission.

Hoke continued to sizzle the nets from deep out of the locker room drilling his fourth and fifth 3-pointers of the game in the first three minutes of the second half. Garst followed with a basket to give the Knights their largest lead of the game at 12 points (47-35) with just over 15 minutes left.

Anderson chipped away at the lead for the next five minutes and a senior Nayte Russell (Birmingham, Ala.) three-pointer started the decisive 30-12 run in the final nine-plus minutes. Freshman Brandon Young (Belmont, N.C.) followed with an old-fashion three-point play to give Anderson its first lead in almost 20 minutes of game time at 62-60. The Trojans continued to maintain the momentum and pulled away to the 14-point victory.

SAPC shot slightly better at 47.5% compared to 46.6% by Anderson, but the Trojans took advantage of 21 more free throw opportunities. AU made 22-of-27 (81.5%) free throws including 18-of-20 freebees in the second half. The Knights were 4-for-6 from the charity stripe.

Both teams had four players in double digits with Garst placing all scorers with 20 points while Hoke scored 15 of his 18 points on five 3-pointers. Poe and junior Charles Phillips (Decatur, Ga.) added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Phillips and Garst each dished out four assists while Phillips pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

Freshman Kevis Cornwell (York, S.C.) led the Trojans with 18 points and six steals. Young bucketed 17 points; freshman Jarret Johnson (Greensboro, N.C.) tallied 13 points; and Russell added 11 points. Freshman Trey Britton (Alpharetta, Ga.) helped Anderson win the battle of the boards, 35-33, with a game-high 10 rebounds. Britton just missed a double-double with nine points.

St. Andrews hosts league foe Queens University of Charlotte on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.