BLUEFIELD, W.Va. --- Mark Williams scored the final four points of the game, including his go-ahead basket with 1:06 remaining to lead the Mountain State University men's basketball team to a 50-47 win over Tusculum College Saturday afternoon in day two action of the Currence Classic.
For two teams that scored over 80 points the night before, it was a defensive battle in Saturday's contest. Both teams shot 30 percent from the floor in a game that included 10 lead changes, including seven in the second half.
Kevin Vest was the lone Pioneer in double-figure scoring as he finished with 10 points and six rebounds, while Jordan Davidson accounted for eight markers and a game-high 10 boards.
Isaiah Hill and Cam Miller tallied 10 points apiece, while Williams finished with nine points.
The Pioneers edged the Cougars (30.6%-30.5%) in field goal percentage, while MSU won the rebounding battle by a 42-41 margin, including 16-9 on the offensive boards.
"I was pleased with how hard we played and I liked that we weren't intimidated against a very physical and athletic team like Mountain State," said TC head coach Michael Jones. I liked that we came out with a good game plan and defensively, we executed that game plan."
Tusculum (2-4) battled through foul trouble, cold shooting and turnovers but still managed to take a 25-24 lead at halftime thanks to Darius Carter's jumper with 43 seconds left in the period.
With the score tied 33-33, the Cougars (7-3) scored seven straight points, including a Hill dunk and a three-pointer by Miller as MSU led 40-33 with 12:44 left in the contest.
Tusculum answered with an 8-0 spurt to retake the lead at 41-40 with 7:40 remaining. The run was sparked by four points from Davidson and a pair of free throws from Anton Tuz.
The lead would bounce back and forth before Tusculum scored four straight on a pair of Vest free throws and a lay-up by Larry Smith with 2:20 left on the clock. That would be TC's final points of the game.
Hill buried a jumper with 1:20 remaining and was fouled on the shot. He would miss the free throw, but David Nyarsuk came up with the offensive rebound and Williams connected on the game-winning jumper with just over a minute left.
MSU's Mantas Drungys came up with a steal on Tusculum's ensuing possession and was fouled with 46 seconds left. Drungys missed the free throw as the Pioneers had new life.
Drungys answered with defensive gem as he blocked Davidson's shot at the rim. Hill came up with rebound and connected on his two free throws with 13 seconds remaining to give MSU a 50-47 lead.
Following a Tusculum timeout, the Pioneers got Vest open for a three-pointer from the wing, but his shot hit the back of the rim at the buzzer to end the game.
The Pioneers committed 22 turnovers in the game, resulting in 23 points for the Cougars. The 16 offensive boards by MSU accounted for a dozen second-chance points against Tusculum.
"I'm not happy that we are getting beat on things that we are doing to ourselves," Jones added. "With the number of turnovers we had and the offensive rebounds we gave up, and against a talented team like MSU, if we eliminate those mistakes, we come out of here with a win."
Davidson was named to the Currence Classic All-Tournament Team as he averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per contest during the weekend.
Tusculum returns to action on Thursday as they host Lees-McRae College for the completion of last Tuesday's game that was suspended due to a leaky roof over the Pioneer Arena playing surface. Thursday's game is slated to begin at 7 p.m. with TC leading 44-30 with 17:28 remaining in the game. There will be free admission for all fans.
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