JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Tusculum University senior Connor Jordan poured in a career-best 29 points as the Pioneers held on for a thrilling 84-81 South Atlantic Conference win at arch-rival Carson-Newman University Wednesday night.
The Pioneers (11-11, 9-7 SAC) avenge an earlier season loss to the Eagles (18-6, 11-5 SAC) while recording their third straight victory at Holt Fieldhouse. TU hands the C-N its second home loss of the year and snaps the Eagles' eight-game home winning streak.
Jordan, a native of nearby Morristown, shot 12-of-19 from the field and made four critical free throws in the final 30 seconds as Tusculum fended off a furious Carson-Newman rally.
Tusculum closed out the opening period with a 15-5 run to take a 44-32 lead at halftime. TU led by as many as 14 in the second half, but the Eagles chipped away at the deficit and took the lead at 70-68 with 4:20 remaining on a Trey Hubbard jumper.
Jordan tied the game 14 seconds later with his layup before Ben Beeker was fouled and he would make one of two free throws to give C-N a 71-70 advantage with 3:49 to go.
After the Pioneers missed two shots on their next possession, Jordan came up with a steal and bucket as Tusculum took a 72-71 lead with 3:13 remaining.
Hubbard nearly brought the house down with his three-pointer with 2:56 left as the Eagles moved ahead 74-72. TU's Akeem Odusipe tied the game with his layup, but Hubbard matched a career-high with his 27th point on his jumper with 2:22 remaining as C-N went up 76-74.
Redshirt freshman TJ Printup tied the game for Tusculum with his layup with 2:04 on the clock and after a missed triple by C-N, graduate student Jacob Hobbs put home a slam dunk that gave the Pioneers the lead for good at 78-76 with 1:18 remaining.
With 1:04 to go C-N's Jack Browder was fouled but he missed the front-end of the one-and-bonus. TU came down with the rebound and Jordan was fouled with 36.1 seconds remaining. He would make both free throws to extend the lead to 80-76.
On C-N's ensuing possession, Browder would be fouled and this time he came through with a pair of makes with 26.7 seconds left as the TU lead was cut to 80-78. Jordan would be fouled immediately with 25.4 seconds to go and Jordan would make both as the lead swelled back to four (82-78).
Hubbard would come up empty on his layup with 15 seconds left and Printup came down with the rebound. He would make one of his two free throws as the Pioneers led 83-78.
Carson-Newman would be forced to put up a three-pointer with seven seconds left but it was no good and Printup came down with his eighth board of the night. He made one of two free throws before Nick Brenegan hit a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer to provide the final score… Tusculum 84, Carson-Newman 81.
Hubbard went 10-of-20 from the floor for the Eagles, including a pair of three-pointers and was a perfect 5-of-5 at the free throw line. Browder finished with 18 points, while John Zhao, was held to seven points, 13 points under his seasonal average. Brenegan, who averages 19.1 points per game, scored only nine points for the home team.
The Pioneers got 13 points from redshirt freshman Bryce Jackson, while Hobbs, Printup, KJ Crump and Travis Pourciau each contributed eight markers in the victory. Odusipe added seven points and recorded a career-best four blocked shots. Pourciau also matched a season-best with his three blocks.
Tusculum shot 48.6 percent from the floor and forced 15 Carson-Newman turnovers resulting in 15 points for the visitors.
The Pioneers return to action next Wednesday when they host Lincoln Memorial to begin a three-game home-stand. The Tusculum / LMU game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. from Pioneer Arena.
