MARS HILL, N.C. — Mars Hill’s Kory Davis scored the final four points of the contest including a game-clinching three-pointer with 6.6 seconds to lead the Lions to a 66-61 South Atlantic Conference win over Tusculum, Wednesday night at Burt Stanford Arena.
Mars Hill (7-17, 5-17 SAC) snaps a nine-game losing streak to the Pioneers (6-19, 6-15 SAC) posting a victory over their cross-mountain rivals for the first time since Jan. 8, 2020. Wednesday was also the 100th recorded meeting between TU and the Lions.
Davis recorded 13 points and connected on all three of his long-range attempts. Dallas Kendall added 14 points, Kadyn Dawkins recorded 11 points and Marvin Hires had 10 points and three blocked shots including a rejection of a Tusculum layup with 36 seconds left to preserve a 63-61 MHU lead.
The Tusculum duo of Akeem Odusipe and Bryce Jackson scored 16 points apiece, while Malachi Hale added nine points and the freshmen twin duo of Denaj and Taj Kimber scored seven points each for the Pioneers.
Odusipe and TJ Printup grabbed 10 rebounds each as TU edged Mars Hill 36-35 on the boards. For Odusipe, it was his sixth double-double of his career and eclipses double-figure rebounds for the 10th time this season.
With Mars Hill leading 62-59, Denaj Kimber made a layup to cut the deficit to one with 1:11 left. Davis would be fouled with 52.2 seconds remaining as he made one of two free throws as MHU was up 63-61.
Tusculum worked the ball around as Denaj Kimber got free and was heading to the rim but Hires came up with a rejection as the Lions came down with the basketball. There were six seconds separating the shot clock and the game clock. The Pioneers elected not to fall, but as the shot clock expired, Davis drained a three-pointer from the right wing with 6.6 seconds left to extend the lead to five (66-61) and seal the win for Mars Hill.
Tusculum went 23-of-56 from the field for 41 percent, including 5-of-17 from three-point territory (29%) and 10-of-18 from the free throw line (56%). Mars Hill shot 40.4 percent from the floor (21-of-52), hit six 3-pointers, and went 18-of-26 from 69%.
Tusculum will be at Newberry this Saturday in the Pioneers’ final road contest of the regular season. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. from Eleazer Arena. Tusculum will be looking to snap a nine-game, road-losing streak. TU’s last road win came in November in a 96-84 win at Wingate (Nov. 23, 2024).
