GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University got 20-point performances from Bryce Jackson and Travis Pourciau as the Pioneers defeated visiting Limestone University 103-94 Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Arena in South Atlantic Conference men's basketball action.
After playing its last four games on the road, Tusculum (5-8, 3-4 SAC) returned home and established season-highs for points (103) and field goal percentage (57.1%) as TU went 32-of-56 from the floor including 10-of-19 from three-point territory.
Tusculum head coach J.T. Burton recorded his 89th win with the Pioneers moving into sole possession of third place on the program's all-time victory list.
In a physical battle where 53 combined fouls were called (Limestone 27, Tusculum 26) resulting in 66 free throw attempts by both teams, two technical fouls and four players fouling out. The Saints (8-7, 4-3 SAC) went 26-of-30 from the line for 87 percent while the Pioneers shot 29-of-36 on the day for 81 percent.
Jackson posted his second 20-point game of the season as he went 6-of-8 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the foul line. Pourciau's 20-point effort was a season-high with 19 coming in the second-half. He grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and went 5-of-8 from the field and 10-of-11 at the line including all nine charity shots in the final period.
TU also got 13 points from KJ Crump, 12 from Connor Jordan and 10 markers by Jacob Hobbs. Senior Kobe Funderburk did not miss a shot for his nine points as we drained a pair of triples and converted all three of his free throw tries. TJ Printup contributed nine points while Josiah Morris tallied eight. Jordan also dished out a career-best eight assists in the victory.
Limestone's Greg McKay led all scorers with 22 points as we went 6-of-10 from the floor and 10-of-11 at the free throw line. Ayden Hickman had 20 points while Jacquez Yow tallied 17 points including 9-of-10 from the stripe. Yaturi Bolton and Zeb Graham added 14 and 11 points, respectively as the Saints had its four-game road winning streak snapped.
Limestone jumped out to an early 11-6 lead following three-pointer by Hickman and a McKay layup. The Pioneers responded with a 14-4 run to take a 20-15 lead following a Printup triple at the 12:28 mark of the first period.
LU posted five straight to tie the game at 20-20 but Tusculum would use an 11-2 spurt over a span of 3:33 to move out to a 31-22 advantage with 7:22 left in the half. The TU run was sparked by eight straight points from Hobbs thanks to two 3-pointers and a tomahawk one-handed dunk which electrified the Pioneer Arena Faithful.
But the Saints answered with a 14-5 run and tied the game at 36-36 with 1:42 left before the break. Tusculum would score the final five points of the half as Funderburk buried a three and Crump hit a jumper just before the horn to take a 41-36 lead into locker room.
Tusculum extended the run to 9-0 by scoring the first four points of the second half as Jordan stole the in-bounds pass underneath the TU basket and converted the easy layup. TU got a steal by Crump as Akeem Odusipe converted the layup as the Pioneers led 45-36 with 19:11 left in the game.
Graham got a three-point play to cut the deficit to 47-41, but the Pioneers went on a 13-4 run to extend the lead to 58-43 with 13:09 remaining in the contest.
The Pioneers would lead by as many as 17 when Funderburk was fouled while shooting a three. He made all three of his free throws for a 73-56 advantage with 9:15 remaining.
But Limestone rallied and went on a 13-2 run which was capped off by a McKay dunk to trail 75-69 with 6:48 on the clock.
Tusculum moved the lead back out to double-digits at 79-69 as Pourciau's four free throws. McKay answered two free throws before Jackson hit a layup as TU led 81-71 with 5:38 remaining.
The Saints forced a pair of Tusculum turnovers and scored five straight including a three-pointer by Hickman as the 17-point lead dwindled to a five-point margin at 81-76 with 4:26 left.
The teams would trade free throws and buckets as the score stood at 88-83 with 2:20 on the scoreboard. Pourciau would be fouled and he would hit two free throws and after Limestone came up empty on its next possession, TU missed a dunk but Printup came up with rebound and put home a dunk of his own as the Pioneers led 92-83 with 1:40 remaining.
Hickman answered with layup for Limestone, but Pourciau would convert a three-point play to push the lead back out to double-digits at 95-85 with 1:26 to go.
Hickman connected on his fourth triple of the game with 1:19 remaining as Limestone trailed 95-88. Jackson hit two free throws, but Hickman would be fouled while shooting a three-pointer and would go to the line for three. He made the first two, but missed the third as the Pioneers led 97-90 with 51.6 seconds remaining.
With 42.9 seconds left Pourciau was fouled but a double technical was called on Hobbs for Tusculum and Sirr Hughes for the Saints. Pourciau would convert both free throws for a 99-90 lead. McKay hit a layup with 30.1 seconds left to trim the deficit to 99-92. But the Pioneers would get free throws from Jordan and Crump to secure the win for the home team.
Tusculum continues its three-game home-stand on Wednesday when they host Emory & Henry College for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The Pioneers defeated the Wasps earlier this month with a 72-65 road win.
