Monday, January 15, 2007

NORTH GEORGIA MAKES RUN, FALLS SHORT AT HOME
Saints come back from double-digit deficit against UNC Pembroke

Dahlonega, GA - The North Georgia College & State University Saints found themselves down by as many as 11 points in the first half. They were able to tie the game in the second half, only to run out of steam and falling 77-70 to UNC Pembroke in Peach Belt Conference play at Memorial Hall Monday evening.

Trailing by as many as 11 in the first half, the Saints started trimming the lead just 72 seconds into the second half on a three-point play by sophomore Anthony Rowe. Rowe went up for a lay-up and was fouled by the Braves' Jonathan Hart. The sophomore from England was able to convert the lay-up and trim the lead to 40-33 with 18:48 remaining in the contest. Rowe struck again on the Saints' next possession, hitting a lay-up to trim the lead to 40-35 with 18:18 remaining in the contest.

Senior Ryan Franklin scored three of his season-high 15 points on on a three-point play with 17:30 remaining in the contest. He scored on a lay-up, and was fouled by UNC Pembroke's Mark Salazar for the three-point play. Everett House was able to answer for UNC Pembroke, as he hit a 12-footer to extend the lead to 42-38 with 17:04 remaining in the contest. Salazar then hit a free throw with 16:09 remaining to extend the Braves' lead to 43-38.

Rowe hit a 10-footer with 15:58 remaining in the contest to trim the lead to 43-40, before Salazar answered on the other end just 17 seconds later to push the lead back to five. The Saints' would not go away, as junior swingman Jay Anderson hit a jumper to trim the lead to 45-42 with 14:57 remaining. Junior point guard Jakirra Millsap trimmed the lead to one with 14:36 remaining. Following a UNC Pembroke free throw, Anderson converted two free throws of his own to tie the game at 46-46 with 13:52 left on the clock.

The Saints would take the lead on a free throw by Robert Shoupes, however, the depth of UNC Pembroke was too much to handle for North Georgia. The Braves ran ten guys off the bench, compared to North Georgia using eight players.

North Georgia shot 37 (20-for-54) percent from the floor, and 25 (5-for-20) percent from behind the arc. They also shot 75.8 (25-for-33) percent from the free throw line.

Meanwhile, UNC Pembroke shot 47.3 (26-for-55) percent from the floor, and 53.6 (15-for-28) percent from behind the arc. They shot 62.5 (10-for-16) percent from the free throw line.

Jarrell Hunter paced UNC Pembroke (4-12, 3-2 PBC) with 19 points, while Cortez Brown with 16 points and seven rebounds. Salazar added 11 points.

North Georgia was led by Anderson with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Rowe added 10 points to go along with Franklin's 15. Xavier Trice grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

North Georgia (4-12, 0-5 PBC) returns to action Wednesday, as they travel to USC Upstate. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Spartanburg.

-NGCSU-

Box Score

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