Two more records were close to being shattered tonight, one at the hands of junior guard Matt Causey and another by both the Saints and Lions. Causey scored 40 points, the most by any Peach Belt Conference player this season and the second most points in his career. He came within six points of tying NGCSU legend Jim Hyder’s 46 points in a single game set during the 1971-1972 season. North Georgia and PC also combined for 221 points, just a single point shy of tying the NGCSU record for most combined points in a game. Saints set the record during the 1987-1988 season against Tennessee Temple.

26 points in the first half from Causey sparked the Saints (10-8, 6-6 PBC) to a 20-point first half lead over the visiting Lions (10-9, 1-4). The first half ran by at a frantic pace with both teams pushing the ball and taking shots. Neither team could buy a three for the first 15 minutes of the game until senior guard Charles Mitchell connected for the Saints first three with 5:53 remaining in the half. Over the next two minutes, Causey drilled three from downtown for North Georgia and added five points off of free throws as well as adding a lay-up to score 16 of his first half points. The Saints had a 64-40 lead with 1:16 remaining in the period and looked to go into the locker room up by 23, but a last second three from junior forward Pete Manos got PC to within 20 heading into the half.

North Georgia found itself up by as many as 30 points as it hit the 100-point mark with 8:51 remaining in the game. The Lions got to within 15 points with five minutes remaining in the game, but could get no closer as the Saints finished the game on an 18-10 run.

Causey added eight assists to go along with his 40 points and led five Saints in double figures. Junior post Mark Trust chipped in 19 points and junior guard Buzz Wehunt added 18 off the bench. Freshman post Anthony Rowe scored his second straight double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds and senior guard Mark Causey tallied 16 points in the win.

For PC, sophomore forward Jake Baldwin led three Lions in double figures with a team high 30 points. Junior guard Mike Adams scored 17 points in the effort and senior forward David Adcock added 13 points.

The Saints return to Peach Belt Conference action on Wednesday as they host Francis Marion University at 7:30 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium. PC will play again also on Wednesday as they take on Toccoa Falls College.