February 11, 2006

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, NC—After erasing a nine-point deficit in the second half, St. Andrews Presbyterian College never trailed in overtime and defeated Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference rival Lees-McRae College, 94-89, on Saturday in Harris Court.

The Knights, who improved to 8-3 at home, have jumped over .500 on the season at 11-10 and are 9-7 in the CVAC. The Bobcats fell to 6-17 and 4-12.

“We had to scrape, scrap and claw our way back into the game because Lees-McRae could not miss a shot,” said first year St. Andrews Head Coach Billy Lee. “It was a big game that I thought we were supposed to win. We were tight early but never quit.”

Sophomore Joseph Gripper (Charlotte, NC) scored eight of St. Andrews first 10 points in the first three minutes to quickly give the Knights a 10-3 lead. However, SAPC could not stop Lees-McRae from behind the arc. The Bobcats drilled 8-of-10 (80%) three-pointers in the opening frame to storm back.

Junior guard Aaron Dugger (Elizabethtown, TN) drilled is fifth trey of the half with two seconds left to give the Bobcats a 44-41 halftime advantage. Dugger scored 21 of his game-high 39 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Lees-McRae built a nine-point lead through the first five minutes of the second half, but the Knights climbed back and two made free throws by sophomore Jeff Worley (Charlotte, NC) tied the contest at 68-68 with 6:53 left in regulation.

Still tied at 79 apiece in the final minute, Gripper drained a three-point bomb in the corner on a kick out pass from sophomore Taiwon Grooms (Landover, MD) with 22 seconds remaining to give SAPC the lead. Dugger answered with his seventh three to tie the game at 82-82 with 5.3 seconds on the clock. LMC almost gave away the game in the final seconds with a foul but both free throw attempts were missed.

Worley gave St. Andrews the lead for good with a made put back in the first minute of overtime. A free throw by Grooms and a conventional three-point play by senior Chad Eichelberger (Austell, GA) extended the Knights lead to 88-82. The Bobcats were unable to overcome the deficit with only three made field goals in OT.

“I am very pleased with the effort by our team to come back and win,” concluded Lee.

Gripper led the Knights with 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting including all four on SAPC’s three-pointers. Eichelberger recorded the double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Grooms bucketed 16 points while reserves DeRalle Piersall (Dumfries, VA) and Richard Stone (Williamsburg, VA) added nine and eight points, respectively.

Dugger scored his 39 points on 13-of-21 shooting including 7-for-10 from downtown before fouling out in overtime. Sophomore Lansen Leach (High Point, NC) scored 16 points and junior Henry Williams (Kingsport, TN) had 12.

St. Andrews hosts non-conference Wingate University on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Lees-McRae hosts CVAC foe Queens University of Charlotte on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

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