Wes Taylor scores career-high 21 points in win at Lenoir-Rhyne

Taylor, Moore pace Pioneers, Tusculum wins 74-47 at Lenoir-Rhyne

Box Score

HICKORY, N.C. --- Wes Taylor scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Tusculum College men’s basketball team to a 74-47 win at Lenoir-Rhyne University Saturday night at Shuford Memorial Gymnasium in South Atlantic Conference action.

Tusculum’s 27-point win is its largest victory margin over Lenoir-Rhyne in the 29 recorded meetings between the two schools.  The Pioneers (6-6, 1-1 SAC) also post back-to-back wins at Shuford Gym for the first time in TC history.

Tusculum’s Kyle Moore led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the floor and 12-of-16 from the free throw line.  Taylor finished 8-of-11 from the field, while hauling in 11 rebounds to complete his double-double on the night.

Jimmy Boone added 11 points, Rob Troutman tallied eight points, while Justin Steigerwald accounted four markers and a career-best eight assists.

Tusculum shot 56.1 percent from the field, including 13-of-21 in the second half (61.9%).  TC limited the Bears (3-9, 1-1 SAC) to shoot only 30.5 percent, including 8-of-31 in the opening 20 minutes (25.8%).  The Pioneers also limited L-R to only 1-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc (5.3%) as the Bears missed their first 16 long-range attempts.
 
The Pioneers jumped out of the gate with a 10-4 run following a pair of free throws by Taylor at the 11:55 mark of the half.

Tusculum would use a 14-2 over a span of 4:35 to take its largest lead of the contest at 33-15 with 2:03 remaining before halftime capped off by a Moore jumper.  Moore poured in 17 points in the first half, utilizing the charity stripe going 10-of-13 at the foul line in the opening 20 minutes.

The Bears trimmed the deficit with six straight points, including a bucket by D.J. Blackmon with 10 seconds left.  Steigerwald responded with a running jumper just before the horn as Tusculum led 35-21 at the break.

Lenoir-Rhyne would cut the TC lead to 41-30 with 16:04 left, following a basket by Blackmon, who led the Bears with 15 points.

Tusculum answered with a 20-9 spurt over the next 10 minutes to move out to a 61-39 advantage with 6:36 remaining on the clock.  Moore accounted for five points during the TC run, while Troutman and Taylor posted four points each during the spurt.

Tusculum returns to Pioneer Arena on Wednesday to host in-state foe Lincoln Memorial University to begin a four-game home-stand.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.

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