Lions down Eagles, complete season sweep

MARS HILL, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (10-11, 8-7 SAC) won their third straight game, defeating Carson-Newman (7-14, 4-11 SAC) by a score of 74-65 to complete the season sweep Wednesday evening inside Chambers Gymnasium.

The Lions jumped out to a hot start, going up 11-4 in the first three minutes of the contest with Austin Gilyard hitting his first two three-point attempts.  The Lions built their lead to 13 points following back-to-back three-pointers from Gilyard  and Ja'Shawn Brooks, going up 19-6 with 14:45 remaining in the half.  

Carson-Newman, trailing 20-11, reeled off five straight points to pull within four with just over 12 minutes remaining in the frame.  A Mars Hil 7-2 run put the Lions back up by nine, capped off by a Jamal Bryant jumper.

With just over nine minutes left in the half, the Lions blew their lead wide open, going on a 13-0 run to lead by 21 points with 4:16 remaining in the first frame.  The Lions closed out the half up by 19, holding Carson-Newman to 27 points.

Gilyard led all players with 13 points in the half followed by Matthew Powell's nine.  Powell hit all three three-pointers attempted.  Nassyr Daniel added eight and Bryant closed the frame with seven.

The Eagles came out in the second half and reversed fortunes, outscoring the Lions 38-28, holding Mars Hill to 26 percent from the floor.  Carson-Newman converted on over 50 percent of their shots with EJ Bush leading the way, dropping 11 points and collecting seven rebounds in the half.

Carson-Newman clawed their way back into the contest with under a minute remaining, narrowing the deficit to four points.  Clutch free throws down the stretch from Gilyard and Bryant sealed the win for Mars Hill to complete the season sweep over the Eagles.

All five Mars Hill starters ended the contest in double-digits with Gilyard's 16 leading the way.  Powell closed the contest with 13 points while Bryant ended the game with 12 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double.

Mars Hill takes to the road on Saturday, February 8 when they face Catawba.  Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.