GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - The Newberry College men's basketball team (15-12, 14-10 SAC) came away with an upset victory on the road over the No. 3 seeded Tusculum Pioneers by a final score of 60-59 on Wednesday to advance to the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) semifinals in Greenville, S.C.
The Pioneers would strike first, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead before TJ Brown (Columbia, S.C.) was able to hit a three-pointer as the shot clock expired to get the Wolves on the board. However, Tusculum was able to press their attack with a 9-0 run to take a 14-3 lead. Sherman Robinson (Freeport, Bahamas) was then able to hit a pair of baskets down low to keep the score from getting out of hand early. The Pioneers were able to extend their lead to as large as 17 points, but Marcus Ford (Eatonton, Ga.) and Devario Sheppard (Columbia, S.C.) each hit a three to keep the Wolves within striking distance. Newberry was then able to strike back in force, using a 14-2 run late in the half to go into the halftime break only trailing 31-35.
Tusculum would once again start out strong in the second half, extending their lead to as large as eight points. However, the Wolves would carry over their momentum from late in the first half to go on a 15-2 run that featured an and-one from QuanDaveon McCollum (Clio, S.C.) to take their first lead of the game. The game would be neck-and-neck the rest of the way with neither team able to build a lead greater than three points. Brown and Sheppard hit a pair of clutch driving layups to keep Newberry ahead, but Tusculum would not go away. The Pioneers had a chance to tie the game with an and-one late, but they would miss the free throw, keeping the Wolves in the lead. Tusculum had one more chance in the final seconds, but McCollum was there to reject the shot and any hope the Pioneers had of advancing to the SAC semifinals, securing the 60-59 victory for the Wolves.
Ford led the way with 15 points. Meanwhile, McCollum had a solid outing with 12 points and 6 rebounds. Brown, Sheppard, and Malakhi Stremlow (Traverse City, Mich.) each finished with 7 points with Stremlow also grabbing 10 rebounds. Robinson and Malik Joseph (Eleuthera, Bahamas) each added five points, and Jalen Johnson (Sumter, S.C.) had 2 points of his own to round out the scoring column.
The Wolves will advance to SAC semifinals Greenville, S.C. on Saturday, March 5 where they will face the No. 2 seeded Queens Royals with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
