Men’s Basketball Loses to Georgia College

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Lions men's basketball team lost to Georgia College and State University, 92-66 in the first round of the 2011 Wingate by Wyndham Holiday Classic Friday evening in Alumni Arena. Mars Hill fell to 3-7 on the year while the Bobcats improved to 7-2 on the season.

Sammy Emile and Terrell Harris led MHC scoring 22 and 21 points in the loss, respectively. Emile added seven rebounds while Harris pulled down six boards. Emile also provided his teammates with five assists in the contest.

Ryan Aquino led GCSU with a double-double scoring 17 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Scott Ferguson tallied 20 points and Tarrence Chatman added 17 points in the game for the Bobcats.
Ferguson hit a jumper at the 19:48 mark and GCSU would not trail the rest of the way. The Bobcats built a 19-point lead at the break. GCSU held the Lions to convert on only 28.6% (10-35) of their field goal attempts in the first half of play including connecting on only 1-13 shots from behind the arc.

The Lions were not able to claw back into the contest in the second frame. The Bobcats held a double-digit lead the entire half with their largest lead of the game of 28 points that came with 18 seconds left in regulation.

GCSU received 32 points off their bench, recorded 22 second chance points and added 13 points off Lion miscues. The Bobcats edged the Lions in rebounds, 43-39.

MHC will play the host institution, Armstrong Atlantic State University, tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the second round of the event.