BANNER ELK, NC--The Lees-McRae College Bobcats topped the
Erskine College Flying Fleet 74-69 in Conference Carolinas action
Monday evening at Williams Gymnasium. The win snaps a nine game
losing streak for the Bobcats, improving their record to 3-14 (2-9
Conference Carolinas), while the Flying Fleet move to 5-11
(2-8).
The Fleet started out strong, opening with a 6-0 run in the
game's first minute. After trading a pair of three pointers, the
Bobcats clawed their way to within one, 12-11. Trading field goals
once again, the teams remained within one until the Fleet turned
things up, doubling the Bobcats with a 19-8 run to hold a twelve
point cushion, 34-22.
With 4:33 to play in the half, freshman Aaron
Woodacre (Piney Flats, TN) and classmate Nick
DeSchepper (Fishers, IN) cut the lead in half with back to back
field goals from beyond the arc. DeSchepper drew the foul on the
play and completed the four point play to cut the deficit to five.
The Bobcats used the three pointers to steal the momentum, gaining
the lead for the first time with just over two minutes to play, and
heading into recess up four, 41-37.
With neither team willing to give an inch, the Fleet and Bobcats
again traded field goals through the first five minutes of the
second, with the visitors regaining the lead, 52-50, at 15:18. Blake
Carr (Seymour, TN) completed a four point play of his to regain
the lead for the Bobcats only to see Brandon Wright (Goose Creek,
SC) knot the score at 54 for the game's first tie. The Fleet then
went on a 8-0 run to go up 62-54, however once again the tide would
change, and the Bobcats would respond with their own eight point
run to tie things up at 62 with 4:17 to play.
After trading three pointers, freshman Aaron
Willey (Kingsport, TN) put the Bobcats up for good making a
pair of free throws off a James Fraley (Greenville, SC) foul with
2:41 to play. On the ensuing Fleet possession, Fraley was once
again whistled for the foul, sending Willey back to the line.
Willey split his attempts from the charity stripe to give the
Bobcats the three point advantage with 2:32 play.
Nick Riley (Stone Mountain, GA) pulled the visitors to within
one, with the Fleet following up with a huge defensive stop with
just under two minutes to play. The Fleet looked to Riley once
again and he delivered, draining a short jumper with 1:31 on the
clock.
After Woodacre's field goal attempt rattled off the rim, the
Bobcats were forced to foul. With fouls to give, DeSchepper forced
the Fleet into an inbounds passing situation, allowing Willey to
steal the ball and find senior Mario
McClunie (Knoxville, TN) breaking up floor for the lay-up and
the lead, 70-69.
TJ Taylor's (Gastonia, NC) field goal attempt was rebounded by
Willey who quickly moved the ball to McClunie in an attempt to kill
as much time as possible. McClunie drew the foul with nine seconds
to play and sank both from the charity stripe to put the home side
up three.
Then Victor Street, Jr. (Rock Hill, SC) was forced to the
sideline as he raced up the floor, stepping out of bounds and
turning the ball over with seven seconds to play. The Bobcats
inbounded to Willey who was sent to the line and made both free
throws to give the Bobcats a little more breathing room at
74-69.
The Fleet still had fight left in them, giving the ball to
Street as he looked to redeem himself as time wound down, however
Street was called for a double dribble, giving the ball back to the
Bobcats with five seconds to play. The Bobcats would make a couple
of quick passes off the inbounds to kill the clock and get back
into the win column for the first time since early December.
"I am proud of the character this team displayed tonight. We
battled tooth and nail from start to finish to earn this one,"
commented Head Coach Scott Polsgrove after the game. "This was the
second game in a row we played with poise and determination in the
final minutes; it's certainly nice to be on the winning end this
time around. This team has a great deal of potential, and I think
they're starting to realize that when they put in a full forty
minutes they can compete with anyone."
Woodacre led the way for the Bobcats with 18 points while
Hairston and DeSchepper added 16 and 10 respectively. Brandon
Wright led the way for the Fleet with a game high 29 points, 27 of
which came from behind the arc. Riley and Taylor also scored in
double digits, dropping 16 and 13 respectively.
The Bobcats held a slight advantage in field goal percentage
going 23-51 (45.1%) with the Fleet going 26-58 (44.8%). The
visitors won the battle on the boards, edging the Bobcats
32-31.
The Bobcats will return to action Thursday evening, hosting
Anderson University at Williams Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for
7:30pm.
PICTURED TOP LEFT: Aaron Woodacre
PICTURED BOTTOM LEFT: Aaron Willey
BOX
SCORE
