NEWBERRY, S.C. — Newberry College placed six players in double figures as the Wolves led wire-to-wire in an 86-62 over visiting Tusculum University Saturday afternoon at Eleazer Arena in South Atlantic Conference men’s basketball action.
Newberry (12-14, 9-13 SAC) shot 31-of-54 from the field (57%) including 11-of-20 from three-point territory (55%). James Lovorn led the 3-point attack with his five triples to finish with a game-high 19 points.
The Wolves also got a dozen markers each from Drew Robinson and Devario Sheppard, Drake Downs had 11 and the duo of Malakhi Stremlow and Makhi Rivers added 10 points apiece.
Four Pioneers (6-20, 6-16 SAC) posted double-digit points as junior Bryce Jackson led the way with 15 points and seven rebounds. Senior Akeem Odusipe had 11 points and seven boards, freshman Taj Kimber contributed 11 points and junior Malachi Hale added 10 points as TU suffered its 10th consecutive road loss dating back to November.
Newberry scored the first five points of the game and jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the opening 3:43 of the contest. The Wolves made five of its first eight shots including a pair of 3-pointers from Lovorn. Meanwhile, TU missed seven of its first seven field goal attempts.
The Wolves stretched the lead to 18-5 before and moved out to a 23-11 advantage following a Rivers’ layup at the 10:14 mark of the period. TU answered with an 8-2 run over the next two minutes thanks to a pair of triples from Hale and a basket from junior Jackson Owens as the Pioneers trailed 25-19 with 7:35 left in the half.
Newberry would close out the half outscoring Tusculum 17-8 as the Wolves took a 42-27 at the intermission.
The Pioneers opened the second period with a 7-2 run in the first 2:02 which included a Denaj Kimber three-pointer and baskets from Odusipe and TJ Printup as TU trailed 44-34.
But the Wolves put the game out of reach with a 16-6 run over the next 6:06 as Newberry led 70-50 with 7:01 remaining. The Wolves would take their largest lead of the game at 86-60 in the final minute of play.
Newberry edged the Pioneers in rebounding 35-31 and outscored TU in the paint by a 40-22 margin.
Tusculum will wrap up its season next week with a pair of home games beginning with Wednesday’s rematch with UVA Wise. The Pioneers lost an overtime thriller to the Highland Cavaliers 86-78 last month at Wise. TU has won three of its last five games at Pioneer Arena.
