For immediate release - 12/29/2008 - #146
LC Men's Basketball Rolls to an 84-60 Victory Over Drew
TAMPA BAY, FL - The Lynchburg College men's basketball team rolled to an 84-60 victory over Drew University behind 61% second-half shooting in the consolation game of the Tampa Bay Shootout hosted by Drew University. The 24-point margin of victory is the highest for LC since defeating Averett University by 27 (101-74) to open the 1996-97 season.
LC shot just 37.1% in the first stanza, but a stifling defensive effort was the name of the game as Drew made just six shots in the opening period as LC went into the half with a dominated 39-17 advantage. Drew took a 6-4 lead at the 17:23 mark, but the Hornets went on a 14-0 run to take an insurmountable 18-6 lead at 12:28, a lead that was only cut to less than 10 once the remainder of the contest. The lead would swell to as many as 31 in the second-half as LC led by 18 or more points the entire second half.
In total 10 players cracked the scoring column for the Hornets with Mason Wooldridge (New Canton, VA/Fork Union) posting a team-high 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes of court time. Sean Sutherland (Alexandria, VA/Commonwealth) had a career day, scoring 14 points on 6-9 shooting in 12 minutes of action. Kyle Gerlufsen (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) set or tied four career-highs with eight points, seven steals, four assists, and three rebounds while Brad Kenney (Advance, NC/Bhaishop McGuinness) had his finest day as a Hornet thus far with seven points, five caroms, and two blocks. Steven Echols (Martinsville, VA/Carlisle) scored 11 points, dished out six assists, and had two steals while Danny Reed (Adamstown, MD/Tuscarora) netted 11 points.
Kyle Joyce paced Drew with 17 points, six boards, and six denials and Gerard Mullin was the only other player in double figures with 10. LC shot 32-66 (48.5%) overall - 13-35 in the first half and 19-31 in the second - and 5-11 from three point land. Drew was 19-50 (38%) overall, shooting 6-21 in the first and 13-29 in the second, making just four shots inside the three point arc as they went 15-33 from three range. LC capitalized on its opportunities at the free throw line, converting 15 of 21 attempts while Drew made only seven of 16.
LC controlled the glass all game, outrebounding Drew on both ends of the court as the Hornets had a 15-8 advantage on the offensive end and a 27-23 advantage on the defensive end to finish the game with a 42-31 rebounding margin. Sharing the ball was prevalent on offense for both teams as LC recorded 21 assists on 32 made baskets while Drew dished out 15 helpers on 19 makes. LC also took care of the ball, recording just nine turnovers compared to 19 for Drew off 13 LC steals.
Lynchburg (2-8) will play in the Averett University Classic in Danville, VA, on January 2 and 3. The Hornets will have a rematch with Ferrum College at 5 p.m. on Friday and face host school Averett Univeristy at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
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