MARS HILL, N.C. – Newberry College junior forward QuanDaveon McCollom poured in 25 points and nine rebounds during an 82-74 win over the Mars Hill Lions on Saturday afternoon.
 
Mars Hill opened the game by sinking a three-pointer after winning the tip. The bucket began a 10-4 scoring run over the first 3:40 for the Lions. Mars Hill built a 16-9 lead by the 6:33 mark of the first half. Newberry responded with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game up 16-16 with 11:44 to play. During the run, sophomore guard Robin Bedford hit a jumper and junior forward TJ Brown hit a three.
 
Brown and Bedford were the second and fourth leading scorers for the Wolves, respectively. Brown finished with 16 points, including 6-8 (75%) from the free throw line. Bedford had nine points, a season high for the sophomore from London, England.
 
The two teams traded the lead for most of the first half, until a three-pointer and free throw gave Mars Hill a 45-39 lead with 1:55 to play. McCollum responded with a bucket and a pair of free throws, sending the Wolves into the break trailing 45-43.
 
The Lions held a slim lead over the first 4:40 of the second half, leading 56-52. With 15:39 to play in the game, Brown sank a three-ball to bring the Wolves within one of the lead, 56-55, and the flood gates were opened.
 
Newberry went on a 15-3 scoring run lasting nearly 6:00. Freshman center Malakhi Stremlow gave Newberry their first double-digit lead of the game at the 10:03 mark, 70-59, to cap off the impressive scoring outburst.
 
The Wolves 15-3 run was all they needed as they tamed the Lions the rest of the way. Mars Hill was able to briefly claw themselves back within four points once, hitting a three-pointer with 8:40 to play. Newberry shot 9-15 (60%) from the line over the final 8:40 and held off the Lions comeback. They shot 78% (25-32) from the line as a whole, their sixth-highest mark on the year.
 
FAST FACTS

• Newberry's 25 free throws made and 32 free throws attempted both represent a season-high total.
• McCollum and Brown are tied for the team-lead in scoring at 18.8 points per game each, but McCollum slightly leads in total points with 226 compared to Brown's 225.
• The Wolves are undefeated (4-0) coming off a loss this season. They average 74.0 points per game in those rebound losses, slightly below their overall season average, 74.5 points per game.
• Sophomore guard Tai Giger shot 3-6 (50%) from downtown and scored 11 points. He leads the team in three-point percentage on the season at 38.8% (26-67).

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Wolves (8-4, 8-4 SAC) travel to Anderson, S.C. for a game with the Anderson Trojans (5-9, 5-9 SAC) on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7:00 p.m.