MARS HILL, N.C. --- Jordan Lear recorded 20 points and didn't miss a shot in the game as the Tusculum College men's basketball team defeated host Mars Hill College, 85-59 Wednesday night in Stanford Arena. Tusculum (13-14, 6-8 SAC) closes out the regular season with its fourth straight win and fifth victory in six outings.

Tusculum finishes fifth in the South Atlantic Conference. Official pairings and game times for next week's Food Lion SAC Tournament will be released by the league office.

Lear went 8-for-8 from the floor, including 4-of-4 from three point territory. Lear (Zanesville, Ohio) hit a 3-pointer with 17:45 left in the first half to give TC a 5-4 lead and the Pioneers would never trail again. TC hit 59.3% (16-27) of their first half field goal attempts to take a 44-23 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

MHC could only connect on 33.3% (10-30) of their shots from the floor. TC hit six shots from behind the arc in the first frame.

TC opened the second half on a 17-6 run to take a 32-point (61-29) advantage with 13:31 left in regulation after Lavonti Jeter (Alexandria, Va.) hit a shot in the lane. MHC was unable to generate a comeback. The Pioneers shooting in the second half was just as hot as the first as they converted on 57.1% (16-28) of their field goals. For the game, TC hit 32-of-55 (58.2%) from the floor, while the Pioneers out-rebounded the Lions 40-32.

Jeter posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards while Jimmy Boone (Greeneville, Tenn.) added 12 points. Ryan Troutman (Mt. Washington, Ky.) and Kyle Moore (Gainesville, Fla.) added 10 points apiece. P. J. Gore (North Myrtle Beach, S.C.) led MHC with nine points and 11 rebounds in the loss.