Box Score Tigerville, SC – Erskine made just 2 of 11 shots in overtime as the Flying Fleet lost 80 to 73 to North Greenville University tonight in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball action at Hayes Gymnasium.  The loss drops the Fleet to 6-16 overall and 2-9 in conference while NGU improves to 11-10 overall and 5-8 in conference.

Outside of the opening minutes of the game, Erskine trailed most of the first half but fought back to trail by only four points at 32 to 28 at intermission.

In the second half, Corey Sorrell (Walton, KY, Northern Kentucky University) and Travis Liner (Charlotte, NC, Northside Christian Academy) drilled back-to-back three pointers to put the Fleet up by one at 41-40 with 16:15 left to play.  After a couple of lead changes and ties, the Fleet took their largest lead of the game at 61-54 on two jump shots by DeShaun Hall (Inman, SC, Landrum High School) and a 3-point basket by Mike Gabbard (Erlanger, KY, Western Kentucky University).  Unfortunately for the Fleet, NGU’s Zach Shields hit a 3-point on their next possession to cut the Fleet lead back to four points.  Erskine maintained the slim lead until the final minute.   Leading by three points at 68-65, Shields hit his sixth of seven 3-point shots on the night with fifteen seconds remaining to force overtime.

Erskine lost their range in the overtime period, converting on just 2 of 11 shots.  Meanwhile, NGU made their possessions count hitting three of their four shots and their four free throws in the last thirty seconds.  NGU’s Jimmy Ellis opened the extra frame by nailing a 3-point basket with Shield’s immediately following on their next possession with this seventh 3-pointer of the night to give the Crusaders a six point advantage.   The Fleet defense tightened up, forcing three consecutive turnovers and a missed shot but offensively Erskine could only convert the four stops into two points on a layup by Gabbard following a NGU turnover.  Following an NGU basket to put the lead back to six, Hall got another steal and this time Corey Sorrell made it count with a long 3-point basket to get the Fleet back to within a single possession at 76-73 with 33 seconds remaining.  Forced to foul, Erskine put NGU on the line where Tim Franklin made both free throws. Following a Fleet miss, Shields added two more free throws for the final of 80-73.

Defensively, Erskine forced NGU into 22 turnovers, 11 from steals, while only committing 8 turnovers.  However, NGU dominated the glass at 42 to 28. 

Corey Sorrell and DeShaun Hall both finished with fourteen points to lead the Fleet.  Sorrell also had a team-high 5 rebounds.  Gabbard finished with 9 points along with 8 assists.

For the Crusaders, both Paul Harrison and Zack Shields finished with game-highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds.  Jimmy Ellis added 15 points and Jason Wray just missed a third “double-double” with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Erskine hosts the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score