Box Score Sluggish Start Dooms Pfeiffer Men in 99-83 Home Loss to Averett
Misenheimer, N.C. (Jan. 7, 2020) – Visiting Averett University jumped out to a 16-4 lead and never looked back, taking a 99-83 USA South men's basketball win over Pfeiffer University on Tuesday night in Merner Gym.
The Cougars, who improved to 7-6 overall and 3-2 in USA South play, stretched their lead to 25 points (44-19) with 4:50 left in the first half following a Montre' Cash basket. The 25-point margin would be the largest of the game for Averett.
After trailing 52-35 at halftime, Pfeiffer started to make a comeback, methodically trimming the Cougar lead to 78-70 after Jerome Savoy (Waldorf, Md.) hit a three-pointer with 6:18 left.
Averett's Bryson Davis pushed their lead back to 13 points (86-73) at the 3:37 mark.
Down 88-78, Pfeiffer's Jamaal David (Clinton, Md.) knocked down a pair of free throws at the 4:18 mark, his 20th of the contest, breaking the school record for most made free throws in a game. That record was previously held by Richard Biddy, who hit 18 free throws against Newberry in December of 1957,
From that point, Pfeiffer could not get the lead to under nine points the rest of the way, with Averett claiming the 99-83 win.
The Falcons struggled early, shooting just 38.1% (8-of-21) in the first half, while the visiting Cougars shot for a first half clip of 47.9%. All told, Pfeiffer finished the game going 22-of-51 from the field (43.1%) while Averett managed a 47.0% mark on a 31-of-66 effort.
Averett controlled the boards, outrebounding the Falcons by a 50-25 margin, including 22 offensive rebounds.
Pfeiffer did shoot well from the free throw line, going 30-of-38 (78.9%).
Individually, David led all scorers with 37 points and controlled a team-best 10 rebounds. Savoy had 13 points while Sean Scott (Waldorf, Md.) had 12 points.
Averett was led by Raymond Bullock, as he had 24 points and eight rebounds.
The loss drops Pfeiffer to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in USA South play.
The Falcons will look to shake off the loss, as they travel to take on N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff against the Battling Bishops is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
