Box Score Due West, S.C. – Freshman Roderick Perkins provided the spark of the bench to lead Erskine (10-4, 6-4) to a 79 to 70 win over in-state conference rival North Greenville University (6-7, 3-4) tonight at Belk Arena. 

Perkins (Smyrna, GA, Campbell High School) scored a game-high 24 points, tying his career and season-best, while pulling down a team-high 8 rebounds in the victory.  He also had 5 steals on the defensive end, one leading to a breakaway reserve dunk that got the crowd on their feet.

The game began slowly as both teams misfired on their first two possessions.  Senior Corey Sorrell (Walton, KY, Holy Cross High School) kicked the ball out to junior Jake Haslam (Lithia, FL, Tampa Preparatory School) in the corner who promptly drilled the open 3-point shot to give Erskine their first points of the game.

With the game tied at 14 to 14, Corey Sorrell started a 10-0 run for the Fleet with a nice inside move while junior DeShaun Hall (Inman, SC, Landrum High School) hit two 3-point shots to give the Fleet their largest lead of the half.  NGU trimmed the lead to just four points at 36 to 32 by halftime.

NGU scored the first five points of the half on a 3-point basket by Chris Dean and a drive by Tyshawn Patterson.  Perkins made a short runner in the lane to make the score 40 to 39 and the Fleet never trailed again.

The Crusaders got to within two points twice later in the half but Erskine had an answer each time. 

Erskine made 7 of 9 free throws down the stretch to ice the game.

Corey Sorrell scored 23 points while Hall contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds.  Point guard Mike Gabbard (Erlanger, KY, Boone County High School) had another excellent night directing the Fleet offense, scoring 14 points and handing 6 assists with no turnovers.

The Crusaders were led by Patterson's 21 points and 6 assists.  Dean finished with 16 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.

Erskine plays their next three games on the road.  On Thursday, the Flying Fleet travel up the mountain to Banner Elk, North Carolina, to play the Bobcats of Lees-McRae College.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.