'Canes Put On A Shaw In Win Over Tusculum

'Canes Put On A Shaw In Win Over Tusculum

AMERICUS - Senior Matt Shaw scored a career-high 27 points in 24 minutes of action to lead the Georgia Southwestern men's basketball team past Tusculum College, 75-60, on Sunday afternoon in the Storm Dome.

The Hurricanes move back over .500 with a record of 3-2. Tusculum has lost three-straight games and falls to 1-4.

The Blue & Gold wasted little time jumping into the lead on Saturday, scoring the first seven points of the game. Jamon Hawkins dished assists to Milos Kleut and Shaw for early layups. Michael Tankersley knocked down a free throw to complete the run.

GSW led wire-to-wire. The closest the Pioneers would get was three points when Addison Flynn hit a 3-pointer at the 16:53 mark of the opening half to make the score 10-7.

The Hurricanes took a 36-27 lead into the halftime break.

A Tankersley dunk with 17:42 to play gave GSW an 11-point lead. The Southwestern advantage would remain in double figures the rest of the way.

GSW opened its largest lead of the afternoon with 5:54 remaining when Alan Arnett drilled a 3-pointer to put the Hurricanes ahead 68-48.

Southwestern controlled the inside throughout, grabbing nine more rebounds (36-27) while posting 24 more points in the paint (44-20) than the Pioneers.

The Hurricane defense was strong once again, as Tusculum finished 13 points below its season average.

The Pioneers finished the game shooting 39.1 percent. GSW connected on a red-hot 51.9 percent from the floor.

Arnett joined Shaw in double figures with a season-high 19 points for GSW after connecting on 3 of 6 from beyond the arc and knocking down all six of his free throw attempts. Hawkins added 10 points and a season-high seven assists. 

Flynn played all 40 minutes and led TC with 17 points. Neal Spinks chipped in 13.

The Hurricanes return to the hardwood on Dec. 8 when they play their first road game of the season, a rematch with Tusculum in Greeneville, Tenn.