GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's basketball team will close out its three-game home-stand this week with a pair of South Atlantic Conference contests at the friendly confines of Pioneer Arena.

The Pioneers (11-5, 11-3 SAC) will face Anderson University this Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. the season's first meeting with the Trojans. TU will finish this week's action with Saturday's clash with Lenoir-Rhyne University at 4 p.m.

Despite dropping an 88-85 overtime thriller to nationally-ranked Queens University Charlotte last Wednesday in their lone game of the week, the Sons of Davy Crockett still find themselves locked in a three-way tie for first place in the league standings at 11-3, along with Queens and Lincoln Memorial University.

Tusculum's 85 points were the second most logged by the Pioneers this season as reigning SAC Player of the Year Trenton Gibson posted 16 points to go along with his nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Junior Jalen Crowder connected on five 3-pointers for his season-best 15 points and junior Jacob Hobbs recorded his first collegiate double-double with 12 points and a career-best 12 rebounds.

In the Queens game, James West IV and Inady Legiste contributed nine points each while the trio of Justin Mitchell, KJ Crump and William Vedder accounted for eight points apiece as the Pioneers split the season-series with the Royals.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS

Tusculum head coach J.T. Burton and his Pioneers continue to be solid on the boards where they rank in the top-four in the conference. TU is fourth in the league in rebounds per game (40.25 rpg – 27^th in NCAA II), second in offensive rebounds per game (13.56 rpg – 17^th in NCAA II) and third in rebound margin (+5.4 – 40^th in NCAA II).

Defensively, the Pioneers are allowing 71.8 points per game including 63.6 ppg over the last seven games where TU boasts a 6-1 record.

Trenton Gibson enters this week's action tied for the conference-lead in scoring averaging 20.0 points per game (43^rd in NCAA II) and has scored in double figures 25 consecutive games. He is the only player in the league to be ranked in the SAC's top-10 in scoring, rebounding (6.8 rpg – 9^th in SAC) and assists (5.0 apg – 4^th in SAC / 38^th in NCAA II).

The two-time All-SAC selection leads the Pioneers at the free throw line where he is shooting 86.2 percent from the line including a sizzling 34-of-36 (94.4%) in his last seven games. He hasn't missed a free throw at home since Dec. 4, a string of 22 in a row at Pioneer Arena. His 75 free throws made are the second most in the SAC and 27^th in the country.

For is efforts, Gibson was named to the Bevo Francis Award Watch List, which recognizes the top small college men's basketball player in the country.

Gibson is 30 points shy of climbing into the top-10 in scoring in the 111-year history of the program. His 1,470 points are ranked 11^th in school history. He is already in the top-10 in 10 statistical categories including: field goals made (460 – 9^th), field goal attempts (1105 – 5^th), free throws made (440 – 3^rd), free throw attempts (547 – 3^rd), free throw percentage (.804 – 6^th), total rebounds (611 – 9^th), rebounds per game (6.43 – 4^th), assists (398 – T3rd), assists per game (4.19 – 7^th) and steals (116 – 8^th).

Sophomore forward Inady Legiste is second on the team in scoring and field goal percentage and is the team-leader in blocked shots. Legiste, the runner-up for the 2021 SAC Freshman of the Year Award, is tallying 10.8 points per game while shooting 55.2 percent from the floor (10^th in SAC) including 11-of-20 from three-point territory (55%). His 1.56 blocked shots per game average is second in the conference and 45^th in the country. 

For Legiste, two of the best basketball performances of his young career have come against the two teams the Pioneers will host this week. Last year at Anderson, he poured in a season-best 20 points and hauled down 12 rebounds in a thrilling 60-59 road win against the Trojans. In this year's first meeting with Lenoir-Rhyne, he shot a blistering 11-of-14 from the floor for a career-high 24 points.

Virginia State University transfer forward William Vedder is third on the TU roster in scoring and is listed amongst the top shooters in the conference. Vedder is averaging 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor (16^th in SAC). The Washington, D.C. product played his first three seasons at Virginia State where he helped the Trojans to three CIAA Division titles and three trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Veteran forward Brandon Mitchell is the team's best shooter on the floor where he is connecting on 62.8 percent which is fifth in the league. He also leads the team in rebounding averaging 6.8 boards per contest (8^th in SAC). Prior to the Queens game, where he got into early foul trouble and played in only 14 minutes before fouling out, was averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per contest in his last three outings.

He is Tusculum's all-time leader with his 189 career blocked shots (9th in SAC history) including 18 this season while averaging 1.13 rejections per contest (T6th in SAC). His 726 career rebounds are the fourth-most in school history including 325 on the offensive glass which are tied for the second-most in SAC history. He leads the team averaging 3.12 offensive boards per contest which is fourth-best in the SAC entering this week and 44^th in NCAA II.

Junior guard Justin Mitchell has been Mr. Reliable all season long where he is posting 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game (18^th in SAC). He is the only player on the TU roster this season to start in all 16 games where he is shooting 44 percent from the floor and is the team-leader averaging 1.3 steals per contest (13^th in SAC).

Graduate student James West IV, a 2021 All-SAC selection, is averaging 6.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.15 steals per contest.

Freshman guard KJ Crump has scored in each of his last five games and has been in the starting line-up in every game for the past two months. Crump is averaging 6.2 points and 1.6 rebounds per game and is the team leader in three-point percentage where he is hitting 40 percent (11^th in SAC).

Caldwell Tech transfer Jalen Crowder is coming off his best performance in a TU uniform with his 15-point effort against Queens. He is averaging 4.6 points and 1.3 rebounds per game.

Lipscomb University transfer forward Jacob Hobbs is averaging a double-double in his last two games where he is accounting for 10 points and 10 rebounds per game while combining for 8-of-14 from the floor including 4-of-8 from three-point land during that stretch. On the season, 6-7 junior is averaging 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds this season while playing in all 16 games with 10 starts including the last seven straight.

SCOUTING ANDERSON

The Anderson Trojans (9-10, 6-9 SAC) entered the week with some momentum following back-to-back three-point wins over Mars Hill and Limestone to snap a four-game losing streak. But the Trojans are coming off a 77-60 home loss to Carson-Newman, where AU was outscored 41-18 in the second half while shooting 6-of-24 from the floor after leading by six at the intermission.

The Trojans jumped out of the gate on fire with an 80-77 season-opening win over then No. 2 Flagler and following with an overtime victory over in-state foe Lander. Anderson lost four of its next five games including setbacks to national ranked LMU and Queens. The Trojans closed out the pre-holiday schedule with a four-game winning streak with victories over Coker, Limestone, Lenoir-Rhyne and Young Harris.

But a heart-breaking 83-81 loss to 25^th-ranked Georgia College on New Year's Eve sparked a four-game losing streak with SAC losses to Catawba, Queens and Wingate. A 100-97 win over Mars Hill and a gutty 77-74 road win at Anderson ended the drought for the Black & Gold before Monday's game with Carson-Newman.

Anderson is led in scoring by Crosby James as the junior guard is averaging 17.2 points per game which is fifth in the league. He is shooting 42.6 percent from the floor including 41.8 percent beyond the three-point arc. The 2020 SAC Freshman of the Year has scored in double-figures on 14 occasions this year and enters Wednesday's game at Tusculum averaging 19.2 ppg in his last five outings including 24 points on Saturday at Limestone. He has connected on a triple in each of his last 10 games including five 3-pointers each against Young Harris and Queens.

Senior guard Quin Nottingham continues to guide the Anderson offense where he leads the team dishing out 5.3 assists per game (3^rd in SAC / 23^rd in NCAA II). He is second on the team offensively, averaging 15.5 points per game (8^th in SAC) and is the conference's top free throw shooter (86.5% - 38^th in NCAA II).

Nottingham, a 2020 All-SAC second team pick, has recorded a pair of 30-point games this season against Queens and Georgia College. But Nottingham did not play in the rematch with Queens and against Wingate earlier this month. He returned playing 25 minutes against Mars Hill last Wednesday, but played just 10 minutes against Limestone and did not play in Monday's home outing against Carson-Newman.

Loyola Maramount transfer forward Parker Dortch is third on the roster scoring 15.3 points per game (9^th in SAC) and tallied 15 points against C-N on Monday. Dortch is the only player on the AU roster who has started in all 19 games this season, and like Nottingham, has posted two 30-point games this year, including Lander and Catawba. He is averaging 5.2 rebounds per game and shooting 55.1 percent from the field (10^th in SAC).

SCOUTING LENOIR-RHYNE

It has been a tough year so far for the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears who enter this week with a 4-14 overall record including 3-12 in SAC play. L-R have lost 11 of their last 12 including a 69-49 home setback to the Pioneers last month in the season's first meeting.

The Bears are coming off three straight single-digit losses including Saturday's 62-60 decision to Coker.

Senior guard Kevin Kangu leads L-R in scoring averaging 12.3 points per game including 19.5 ppg in his two games last week. He has connected on a three-pointer in 16 of his 18 contests this season including five each in two outings a week ago.

TJ Nesmith is second on the team with his 11.8 points per game average while also grabbing 3.5 rebounds and shooting 64.5 percent from the field. His 2.33 three-pointers per game average is ninth-best in the league while shooting 40.

Sophomore guard Jalen Johnson is the Bears' third-leading scorer averaging 10.6 points per game, while dishing out a team-best 4.6 assists per contest (6^th in SAC). His 2.43 assist-to-turnover ratio is fourth in the league (46^th in NCAA II) but has missed last week's games against Wingate and Coker. In the season's second game, he scored 34 points in a 94-86 win over Young Harris where he connected on eight 3-pointers. He is also a solid free throw shooter where he is gunning 89.5 percent from the charity stripe.

THE SERIES

Wednesday will be the 25^th meeting between Tusculum and Anderson. The Trojans lead the series 16-8, but the Pioneers have won four in a row including last season's only meeting, a 60-59 victory at Anderson.

The Tusculum / Lenoir-Rhyne series dates back to Jan. 13, 1926. Saturday will be the 54th meeting between the Pioneers and the Bears. L-R owns a 31-22 edge in the series but the Pioneers have won the last four meetings including last year's 78-67 decision in Greeneville in the regular season finale.

TICKETS

Admission for Tusculum home basketball games is $10 for all entrants and children 12 and under will be admitted free. Tusculum students will be admitted free and valid Tusculum ID is required. Fans may also purchase tickets online in advance through HomeTown Ticketing at www.TusculumPioneers.com/information/tickets.

Spectators using HomeTown Ticketing can choose to print tickets at home or use mobile entry tickets at the gate. All attendees are currently required to wear face masks while inside Pioneer Arena.

FOLLOW THE PIONEERS

Fans can watch the action of Tusculum basketball all season at TusculumPioneers.com on the Pioneer Sports Network and the SAC Digital Network. The radio call of the games will also be available locally on WSMG Radio on 95.5 FM and 1450 AM, as well as online at https://jewel955.com/listenlive.