Harrison leads Crusaders on five-game winning streak
Posted by The Skyliner on January 27th, 2010Cory Guinn
Sports Editor
While all of the students were away for winter break, the men’s basketball team was hard at work on the court.
In the first game over the break, North Greenville traveled to Asheville, NC to play against the Owls of Warren Wilson College on Dec. 10. The Crusaders used hot shooting to down the Owls 103-57.
The leading scorer for the Crusaders was Paul Harrison, sophomore sport management, who knocked down 10 of 14 shots from the field to finish with 23 points. Luke Lattimer, freshman sport management, and Matt Hunter, freshman sport management, each scored 12 points while Jason Wray, sophomore biology, chipped in 11 points off the bench.
On Dec. 11, the Crusaders returned home to host Johnson and Wales University from Miami, FL. In a back and forth game, North Greenville used a few clutch free throws late in the game to defeat Johnson and Wales 77-74.
“This was a good win against a very athletic and well-drilled team tonight,” head coach Chad Lister said. “We entered the first half with a lack of energy but we responded well and played hard.”
Harrison was the leading scorer once again, missing only three shots en route to a 20-point game. Kyler Vitko, junior business administration, scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds in the game. Lattimer and Zack Shields, sophomore accounting, combined to hit four three-pointers and finish with 11 points a piece.
After a short layoff, North Greenville returned to action on Dec. 15 playing host to a tough Florida Tech team in Hayes Gymnasium. The Panthers opened up the game with a 10-0 run and never looked back, defeating the Crusaders 88-62.
Harrison was the only Crusader in double figures as he made all nine field goal attempts and scored 23 points. Kyler Booher, junior broadcast media, came off the bench to score seven points and grab six rebounds.
After almost a month off, the Crusaders traveled to Banner Elk, NC to open the New Year against Lees McRae College on Jan. 12. North Greenville was able to hold off a second half rally by the Bobcats and come home with a close 77-74 victory.
“We played extremely well to build a big lead but had to hang on for a good road win against a Conference Carolinas opponent,” Lister said. “Paul Harrison and Luke Lattimer came up big for us tonight and displayed a great deal of resilience.”
Harrison recorded his second double-double of the season, scoring 35 points and collecting 10 rebounds and finishing with two blocks. Lattimer hit four three-pointers in the game and finished with 18 points. Jamaal Pryor, freshman sport management, gave the Crusaders a spark off the bench, pulling down 10 rebounds.
On Jan. 14, the Crusaders played a rematch against Warren Wilson College in Hayes Gymnasium. North Greenville had no trouble with the Owls once again and cruised to a 76-36 victory.
Harrison continued his dominance in the paint, hitting all six of his shot attempts and finishing with 15 points. Wray and Millan Rodrigo, freshman sport management, each finished in double digits, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively.
The Crusaders traveled to Madisonville, TN on Jan. 16 and picked up their second consecutive victory by more than 20 points when they took down the Hiwassee College Tigers 92-68.
Harrison notched his third double-double of the season scoring 23 points and setting the school record for rebounds in a single game by grabbing 17. Rodrigo set a career high in points with 17 while Booher finished the game with 16 off the bench.
On Jan. 18, three Crusaders scored 20 points or more and led North Greenville to a 102-89 victory over Montreat College.
Jonathan Bozymowski, sophomore undecided, scored a career-high 23 points in the game. Lattimer chipped in 22 points and Harrison finished with 20. Also contributing on offense was Rodrgio who ended the game with 15 points.
Three Crusaders scored in double digits, leading North Greenville to a 78-54 win over Morris College on Jan. 21 in Sumter, SC.
Harrison recorded his fourth double-double scoring 27 points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Lattimer scored 17 points and seven rebounds in the game and Pryor came off the bench to finish with 16 points and eight rebounds.
North Greenville’s five-game winning streak would come to an end on Jan. 23 as the Yellow Jackets of Allen University defeated the Crusaders 80-70 while shooting 44 percent from behind the arc.
“I think Allen was the aggressor today,” Lister said. “They shot the ball well from behind the arch and displayed a great deal of swagger. This is definitely a wake-up call for us.”
Harrison finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds to record his second straight double-double. Bozymowski had his second straight game with more than 20 points and he finished the game with 22. Lattimer finished with 12 points in the game.
The Crusaders (10-5) played last night on the road against Carver Bible College and their next game will be Jan. 30 at Anderson University. North Greenville returns home on Feb. 2 to play against Voorhees College in Hayes Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
Tags: Spring 2010, Vol. 110 - Issue 1