Patriots win in total team effort against Clark State
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
HILLSBORO — Though it was Clark State who opened the game with an 8-1 run, the Southern State Patriots didn't back down, as they took the lead into halftime, and took over in the second half for a 72-53 win Tuesday night in their home opener at the Patriot Center.
The Patriots (2-0) didn't score until the 16:08 mark of the opening half with a free throw by third-year player Tyler Jimison (North Adams), but in the end the Patriots finished with four players scoring in double figures.
SSCC inched closer to the lead with a 3-pointer from Jimison, and a free throw by freshman Mark Ellison (Winton Woods) for an 8-7 score. Ellison put the Patriots ahead with a 3-pointer at the 12:43 mark for a 10-9 lead.
From there to the completion of the game the Patriots didn't trail again.
"In the first half we didn't shoot well and had a tough time rebounding, but those things will happen without a solid big in the post," SSCC men's head basketball coach Greg Himes said. "In the second half we went small and started to push the ball up the court, we like to accelerate on offense.
"We also went through stretches where we played well defensively."
The score was tied at 11 and 13, but a 3-pointer from sophomore Kraig Unger (North Adams) and fast break points by Dennis Thomas (Winton Woods) put the home team up 18-13 just under the midway point of the opening half. Thomas wrapped-up the game with 17 points, 11 in the second half.
Unger, who finished with 10 points, sank a 3-pointer from the corner with 7:12 left in the first half, which began a 7-0 run including more points from Unger and a fast break bucket from Thomas for a nine-point lead at 25-16.
Ellison, who scored a game-high 18 points, added to the Patriot lead with an off-balanced 3-pointer with 2:30 left on the first half clock for a 10-point, 28-18 lead, which was the first, but not last double-digit SSCC lead of the night.
A late surge by the Eagles of Clark State made it a 30-22 score at halftime.
Ellison opened up the second half with a jumper and followed with a layup less than two minutes later for a 34-26 lead.
"Mark had an excellent all-around game," Himes said.
Jimison put SSCC up five after the Eagles scored on a three-point play. The North Adams grad finished with 12 points.
The SSCC lead increased to eight when Thomas connected from downtown with 14:06 left in regulation for a 39-31 lead.
Later in the second half, Tyler Knabb (Eastern Brown) put SSCC up 47-36 on a put back basket in the paint. Knabb finished with five points.
The lead went to 13 points with Thomas scoring an a steal and fast break to the hoop with 10:10 remaining.
"Dennis played well off the bench," Himes said. "He stepped up when we needed him to."
SSCC broke away from the Eagles near the end with a 16-4 run at one point in the final 10 minutes. Also scoring points for SSCC were Brandon Stace (4), Rodney Peters (4) and Curtis Wesp (2).
SSCC outscored Clark State in the second half 42-31. Leading the Eagles were Ryan Rittenhouse with 14 points, followed by AJ Tolliver Jr. with 12 and Darion Rockhold with 10.
From the free-throw line the Eagles were 5-for-10 and SSCC was 6-for-10. From the 3-point line SSCC connected six times.
"Our first game (a 106-101 win over Ohio University-Chillicothe last week) we shot really well from the 3-point line, but (Tuesday) we were 6-of-25, but that will get better as the season continues," Himes said.
SSCC will play again on Thursday, Nov. 17 at Valor Christian College at 7 p.m. They will be back home on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. when they host Wright State-Lake.
"Hats off to Clark State," Himes said. "They slowed the game down and did a good job."
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The Patriots (2-0) didn't score until the 16:08 mark of the opening half with a free throw by third-year player Tyler Jimison (North Adams), but in the end the Patriots finished with four players scoring in double figures.
SSCC inched closer to the lead with a 3-pointer from Jimison, and a free throw by freshman Mark Ellison (Winton Woods) for an 8-7 score. Ellison put the Patriots ahead with a 3-pointer at the 12:43 mark for a 10-9 lead.
From there to the completion of the game the Patriots didn't trail again.
"In the first half we didn't shoot well and had a tough time rebounding, but those things will happen without a solid big in the post," SSCC men's head basketball coach Greg Himes said. "In the second half we went small and started to push the ball up the court, we like to accelerate on offense.
"We also went through stretches where we played well defensively."
The score was tied at 11 and 13, but a 3-pointer from sophomore Kraig Unger (North Adams) and fast break points by Dennis Thomas (Winton Woods) put the home team up 18-13 just under the midway point of the opening half. Thomas wrapped-up the game with 17 points, 11 in the second half.
Unger, who finished with 10 points, sank a 3-pointer from the corner with 7:12 left in the first half, which began a 7-0 run including more points from Unger and a fast break bucket from Thomas for a nine-point lead at 25-16.
Ellison, who scored a game-high 18 points, added to the Patriot lead with an off-balanced 3-pointer with 2:30 left on the first half clock for a 10-point, 28-18 lead, which was the first, but not last double-digit SSCC lead of the night.
A late surge by the Eagles of Clark State made it a 30-22 score at halftime.
Ellison opened up the second half with a jumper and followed with a layup less than two minutes later for a 34-26 lead.
"Mark had an excellent all-around game," Himes said.
Jimison put SSCC up five after the Eagles scored on a three-point play. The North Adams grad finished with 12 points.
The SSCC lead increased to eight when Thomas connected from downtown with 14:06 left in regulation for a 39-31 lead.
Later in the second half, Tyler Knabb (Eastern Brown) put SSCC up 47-36 on a put back basket in the paint. Knabb finished with five points.
The lead went to 13 points with Thomas scoring an a steal and fast break to the hoop with 10:10 remaining.
"Dennis played well off the bench," Himes said. "He stepped up when we needed him to."
SSCC broke away from the Eagles near the end with a 16-4 run at one point in the final 10 minutes. Also scoring points for SSCC were Brandon Stace (4), Rodney Peters (4) and Curtis Wesp (2).
SSCC outscored Clark State in the second half 42-31. Leading the Eagles were Ryan Rittenhouse with 14 points, followed by AJ Tolliver Jr. with 12 and Darion Rockhold with 10.
From the free-throw line the Eagles were 5-for-10 and SSCC was 6-for-10. From the 3-point line SSCC connected six times.
"Our first game (a 106-101 win over Ohio University-Chillicothe last week) we shot really well from the 3-point line, but (Tuesday) we were 6-of-25, but that will get better as the season continues," Himes said.
SSCC will play again on Thursday, Nov. 17 at Valor Christian College at 7 p.m. They will be back home on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. when they host Wright State-Lake.
"Hats off to Clark State," Himes said. "They slowed the game down and did a good job."
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