Spring Hill College got its third straight win and climbed over .500 for the season with a 84-75 win over Paine College in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center.
The Badgers (5-4, 1-0) are now 3-0 during their run of five games in 12 days - all three wins coming by 11 points or less - and Spring Hill is averaging 94.7 points per game during its winning streak.
Paine (1-9, 0-3) - which has lost three straight - scored the first four points of the game, but Spring Hill ripped off a 21-6 run to build a 21-10 lead with 11:06 remaining in the first half. The Lions chipped away at Spring Hill's lead and a Johnnie Robinson 3-pointer with 1:57 left got Paine within 38-33, but the Badgers recovered enough to lead 42-35 at halftime.
Paine kept closing the deficit in the first part of the second half and Cameron Gaines knocked down a 3-pointer to close out a 9-0 burst and get the Lions to within 51-49 with 11:38 to go in the game.
Jordan McIlwain stopped the momentum with a basket off a
Brandon Fischer assist to make it 53-49 before Ashton Bonner's jumper made it 53-51 Badgers midway through the half.
However, that was the last time Paine would be as close as two points, as
Justin Allison buried a 3-pointer to put Spring Hill back ahead, 56-51, and the Lions got no closer than four the rest of the way. While the Badgers never were able to land the knockout punch and stretch their lead to double digits, they matched Paine basket for basket, were able to maintain their lead and open their conference schedule with a win.
Spring Hill made 12 3-pointers and had a balanced offensive attack in the game, with five players reaching double figures and a sixth finishing with eight points.
Gresyn Rogers led the way with 17 points (including five 3-pointers) and five rebounds, Allison had 15 with six assists and three rebounds, McIlwain had a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals,
David Daniels netted 11 with seven caroms and
Christian Brandt chipped in 10 and five rebounds for the Badgers, who outrebounded Paine, 48-31.
Gaines paced Paine with 18 points, seven reounds and five assists. Robinson had 15, six rebounds and two steals, Charles Moore had 12 with two steals, Bonner finished with 10, four rebounds and two steals and Ronzell Evans scored 10 for the Lions in the loss.
The Badgers play again Monday, hosting Benedict College in another SIAC matchup. Tipoff at the Arthur R. Outlaw Recreation Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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