Lions take on ETSU in exhibition play

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Mars Hill men's basketball team (2-4) fell to East Tennessee State (4-4) in exhibition play Wednesday night on the road.

The Buccaneers held an 11-point lead entering the half, shooting 63 percent from the floor and outrebounding the Lions 17-9 in the opening 20 minutes of play. Jalen Haynes led all players with 10 points, hitting all four shot attempts. He also led all players with five rebounds.

Kory Davis led the Lions with nine points in the half followed by Marvin Hires' eight. Isaiah Jones netted seven.

ETSU pulled away further in the second half, outscoring the Lions by 17 while Haynes and Deanthony Tipler each scored nine points. Jaden Seymour pulled down eight of the Buccaneers' 27 second-half rebounds.

Davis recorded seven points for the Lions while Jones and Hires each added six. Prosper Obidiebube and Xzaviaer Hawkins each pulled down four rebounds apiece.

ETSU shot 54 percent from the floor to the Lions' 38 while having five players record double-digit scoring efforts with a team-high 19 from Haynes. Seymour collected the double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Mars Hill was led by Davis' 16 and Hires' 14 on the night. Davis added a game-high eight assists while Obidiebube led the team with six rebounds.

The Lions return to South Atlantic Conference play on Saturday, December 10 when they host Tusculum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. inside Chambers Gymnasium.