January 31, 2009

MARS HILL, N.C. - Mars Hill fired on all cylinders offensively in a 95-78 victory over Brevard Saturday afternoon inside Stanford Arena. The Lions improve to 12-7 overall, 3-6 in the SAC. The Tornados drop to 10-9 overall, 2-7 in the SAC.

Mars Hill blitzed Brevard from the opening tip, jumping out to an 8-0 lead. P.J. Gore (North Myrtle Beach, S.C.) had all eight points.

The Lions increased their lead to 17 points, 21-4, off a trey by Danny Sanders (Shelby, N.C.). Brevard had seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of the game, while Mars Hill shot 57.1% (4-7) from three-point range during that same stretch.

The Tornados cut the deficit to single digits, 30-21, off a fastbreak three by Andrew Freeman (Asheville, N.C.) at the 6:56 mark, but a steal and old-fashioned three-point play by Sanders increased the Lions' lead back to double-digits, 34-21, with 6:01 left in the half.

Mars Hill then went on a 14-3 run. A Gore steal and reverse dunk at the 1:30 mark gave the Lions their largest lead of the half, 48-24.

Mars Hill led 48-29 at halftime. Sanders and Gore each had 15 first half points.

The Lions opened the first four minutes of the second half on a 15-6 run. Sanders scored 10 points during the stretch, including two three-pointers and a one-handed flush to make the score 63-35. Another Sanders' shot from behind the arc gave Mars Hill a 31 points lead, 68-37, with 15:06 left in the game.

A free throw by Glen at the 11:54 mark gave Mars Hill its largest lead of the game of 34 points, 76-42. The Lions led by no fewer than 18 points the rest of the way.

Sanders and Gore combined for 52 points for Mars Hill. Sanders had 28. Gore recorded 24. Stoney Polite (Morganton, N.C.) scored 14 points.

Cody Siniard (Brevard, N.C.) scored a team-high 16 points for Brevard. Darin Dellinger (Stanley, N.C.) had 15 points. Jonathan Whitson (Clyde, N.C.) netted only 15 points and one rebound after posting a double-double (28 points, 12 rebounds) against the Lions on January 3. Shane Galloway (Rosman, N.C.) chipped in 14 points.

Mars Hill outscored Brevard in the paint 34-26 and on fastbreak points 22-7.

The Lions will travel to Newberry on February 4. Tip-time is set for 8 p.m.

Boxscore...

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