Jack Slayton

Sports Editor at The Daily Post-Athenian

The Hiwassee College men's basketball team didn't panic and calmly dug itself out of an early 22-6 hole, rallying for a 71-64 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan College on Thursday.

The Bulldogs fell to 0-4 on the season with the disappointing loss.

What made the setback even more frustrating for the Bulldogs was that they were their own worst enemy, literally throwing away the early advantage with a flurry of turnovers and missed free throws as the Tigers climbed within four at the intermission.

Wesleyan still led by three, but failed to score in the final three minutes and could only stand and watch as Hiwassee pulled away by hitting eight of 10 free throws down the stretch.

For the game, TWC was a dismal 12 of 22 at the free throw line and committed 30 turnovers.

Hiwassee made good on 19 of 27 charity tosses and were guilty of just 19 turnovers.

Trailing 6-5 early in the first, the Bulldogs ran off 17 unanswered points. Matt Harper started the run with layup and Dante Turnipseed took over from there.

Turnipseed converted a three-point play, drained a three-point basket, hit two free throws and scored on a dunk to put TWC on top, 17-6. Derek Triplett had a trey and Desmond Crisp a bucket to complete the run.

The lead was still 16, 26-10, when the ball started to roll down hill for the Bulldogs.

Hiwassee went on a 15-2 run to get within three and eventually cut the deficit to one. Cody Carson and Justin Browner led the charge with two three-pointers each and Tyrece Irons added one.

A three-pointer by Shannon Smith gave Wesleyan a 34-30 halftime advantage.

The Tigers pulled even at 37 on bucket by Tylar Johnson and overcame a six-point deficit to take their first lead at 47-46 on two free throws from Lazerick Boyd with 8:38 to play.

The teams traded buckets before a three-point play by Smith and basket by Triplett opened a four-point gap for Wesleyan, 62-58, with 4:20 remaining.

Wesleyan, however, would manage just one more field goal by Smith and were guilty of four turnovers as the Tigers pulled away.

Rico Stanley had a field goal and hit three of four free throws to put Hiwassee ahead to stay at, 66-64. Johnson, Joel Bailey and Browner converted free throws in the final minute to seal the win.

Turnipseed led three TWC Bulldogs in double figures with 20 points. Zamarius McClendon netted 12 and Smith 10.

Browner paced the Hiwassee Tigers with 21 points, while Irons and Stanley tallied 13 each.

WESLEYAN (64): Smith 10, Harper 8, Crisp 7, Triplett 5, McClendon 12, Nicolo, Gregory, Turnipseed 20, Williams 2.

HIWASSEE (71): Irons 13, Boyd 2, Browner 21, Bailey 2, Stanley 13, Carson 6, Johnson 8, Davidson, Carpenter 2, Golden 4.