Misenheimer, NC---The Pfeiffer men's basketball team defeated Erskine 83-80 in CVAC action Thursday night. DeMario Grier scored 20 points to lead the Falcons. All 11 Falcon players scored and Pfeiffer used their pressure defense to force 21 turnovers. Pfeiffer improves to 10-3 overall and 5-1 in the CVAC. Erskine falls to 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the conference.

The first six minutes saw the teams trade baskets as the score was tied at 10 with 13:59 left in the half.

A DeMario Grier field goal capped a 11-2 Falcon run that gave Pfeiffer a 21-12 advantage with 10:34 to go.

Erskine slowly fought back and cut the margain to four before finally trailing by six, 34-28 at the break.

Pfeiffer held Erskine to 30% from the floor in the first half. The Falcons also won the rebounding battle by a count of 23 to 16.

Erskine hit some thrres early in the second half and took a one point lead with 16:27 left in the game.

The two teams traded the lead eleven times times over the next twelve minutes until a Grier field goal gave Pfeiffer the lead at 75-74 with 4:17 to go. It was a lead the Falcons would never lose the rest of the game.

Pfeiffer hit their free throws and a final three-point attempt by Erskine fell short at the buzzer as the Falcons prevailed 83-80.

Greir led Pfeiffer with 20 points. Tavares Cooper added 16 points and four rebounds. Derek McGriff had 15 and Logan Call 10. T.J. Taylor led Erskine with 35 points.

Coach Davis said, "Tavares Cooper was the difference late in the game. He loaded us up and led us to victory. Robert MCGriff was a force all night and we played one of our best defensive games of the year. Our rebounding is also improving and we got several huge ones tonight."

Pfeiffer returns to action Saturday night when they travel to Queens University in Charlotte for a 7:30 pm tip-off.