GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Larry Minnefee scored 16 points to lead five players in double figures as the Tusculum College men’s basketball team defeated Mars Hill College 79-48 Wednesday night at Pioneer Arena.

The Pioneers (13-14, 6-10 SAC) end the regular season, while Mars Hill (9-18, 4-11 SAC) will be at Lenoir-Rhyne College this Saturday night for an 8 p.m. contest.

Jordan Lear added 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Chris Poore accounted for 15 points and five rebounds. Jimmy Boone posted 11 points, while Gabe Story tallied a double-double with 11 points and a dozen boards.

Mars Hill was led by Chris Aline’s 11-point effort, while P.J. Gore tallied nine points in the loss.

Tusculum shot 51.8 percent for the game, including 15-of-27 in the first half as the Pioneers roared out to a 38-26 lead at halftime. Lear led the TC charge in the first half as he accounted for 11 markers, including 24-foot three-pointer with three seconds remaining in the period as TC went on a 16-5 run in the final five minutes.

In the second half, Tusculum used a 19-7 run early in the second half and added a 10-0 spurt later in the period to put the game away.

Tusculum won the battle of the boards by a 39-25 margin, including 24-9 in the second half.

Tusculum will be in action again at next week's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. Tournament pairings will be announced by the league office on Sunday.