Tuesday, February 1, 2005

#3 SPSU OVERCOME #20 SAINTS 105-101

Marietta, Ga. – Sophomore guard Matt Causey (Gainesville, Ga.) scored 37 points for the Saints (15-6, 10-3), but it was not enough to topple third ranked Southern Polytechnic State University Monday night in Marietta.

In a fast paced game that mirrored the first meeting between these two teams, the Hornets (21-1, 14-0) used their size, speed, and depth to force turnovers and the pace of the game. Five minutes into the game, SPSU had a 16-6 lead off of a lay-up from junior forward Dominique Holmes (Ellenwood, Ga.). The Hornets held a sizable lead for much of the half, until North Georgia went on a 15-7 run in the final five minutes of the first to cut the lead to 51-49 going into the locker room.

The frantic pace of the first half continued into the second, but the Saints began to take control of the game and took their second lead of the game when Causey knocked down a jump-shot with twelve minutes to go and made the score 72-71. With nine minutes to go in the game, the Saints had a seven-point lead until SPSU went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to give the Hornets an 89-85 lead.

With three minutes left on the clock, North Georgia was down by 10 and tried once again to make a comeback. Coming to within three points with 30 seconds left on the clock, the Saints forced SPSU to make free throws, but North Georgia was unable to get any closer as the Hornets won 105-101.

SPSU shot well in the game as they went 38-for-78 (49%) from the field and 12-for-26 (46%) from behind the arc. North Georgia also shot well from the field, hitting 56% (41-for-73) of their shots from the floor, but struggled from behind the three-point line (6-for-20). Free throws also hurt the Saints as they hit only 54% (12-for-24) of their shots from the charity stripe.

The Hornets were led by senior guard Chris Jackson (Deland, Fla.), who scored 25 points after shooting 10-for12 from the floor and five-for-five from the free throw line. Senior guard Lamar Karim (Marietta, Ga.) also added 22 points.

North Georgia was led by Causey's 37 points and sophomore forward Mark Trust (Norcross, Ga.) had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.

The Saints take to the hardwood again this Thursday at 8:00 p.m. as they host Berry College for the NGCSU Spirit Night. SPSU also plays Thursday at 8:00 p.m. as they travel to Shorter College.

Box Score

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