GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Limestone University men's basketball team connected on a dozen three-pointers including eight in the second half as the Saints posted a 69-59 South Atlantic Conference win over Tusculum University Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Arena.
Limestone (9-11, 4-6 SAC) avenges a 71-67 loss to the Pioneers (10-8, 6-5 SAC) 23 days ago in Gaffney. LU snaps a three-game losing streak to Tusculum while also notching its first win in Greeneville since 1998.
Five Saints scored in double figures led by Ben Gahlert's 15-point performance as he went 3-for-4 from three-point territory and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe. LU went 12-of-20 from beyond the arch for the game while making eight straight treys in the second half. Isayah Owens and Richard Nunez scored 13 points apiece, while Greg Mckay and Jordan Preaster had 11 markers each.
Tusculum was led by junior Inady Legiste as he recorded his school-record 11th double-double of the year as he accounted for 16 points and 12 rebounds. He posted three steals and matched a career-best with four blocked shots. He was the only Pioneer to go to the free throw line on the day as he went 8-of-10 from the charity stripe.
TU's Connor Jordan added 11 points, while Kobe Funderburk connected on three treys and finished with a season-high 11 points.
Limestone recorded 19 assists on its 23 made field goals while also going 11-of-13 from the free throw line.
The Saints, who trailed by eight in the first half and were behind 28-25 at halftime, opened the second period with a 16-7 run in the first 4:46 which included a four-point play by Gahlert as Limestone led 41-35.
TU's James West IV answered with a triple of his own to cut the deficit in half (41-38), but Limestone responded with an 8-2 spurt, all coming from Gahlert as the Saints led 49-40 with 11:25 to go.
The Pioneers got back-to-back buckets from Joshua Scott and Jordan to make it a 49-44 game. But the Saints went on a 11-3 spurt as Nunez scored six points during the LU run to take its largest lead of the game at 60-47 with 4:08 remaining.
Tusculum would get as close as eight three times down the stretch, but the Saints connected on its last five free throws including a three-point play by Zeb Graham to clinch the Limestone victory.
The Pioneers out-rebounded the Saints by a 38-31 margin as both teams committed 10 turnovers each.
Legiste has recorded 12 double-doubles in his career which are tied for the seventh most in program history.
Tusculum returns to action this Wednesday when they travel to Emory & Henry for the first time in 43 years. TU last played in Emory on Jan. 21, 1980. The Pioneers will be looking to avenge last month's 78-75 home loss to the Wasps, who are playing in their first season as a South Atlantic Conference member. Game time is 7:30 p.m. from Emory, Virginia.
