Patriots struck down by Chargers

     With each team gaining valuable scoring runs throughout both halves, it was the Edison Chargers who made the final scoring run to seal the victory, as they bolted their way past the Southern State Patriots 108-98 Wednesday evening at the Patriot Center.

     SSCC (2-6) trailed by as much as 20 points in the first half, ending the first 20 minutes of play trailing by 10 at 57-47.

     In the first half the Patriots had three players score in double figures in sophomores Josh Hawk, Tirrell Cumberland and freshman Jeremy Bennington. Hawk ended the game with 20 points, scoring 16 in the first half.

     But according to SSCC head coach Ted Creamer it was the lack of an defensive identity that hurt the Patriots.

     “Defense was the difference in the game,” Creamer said. “Most college teams have their own identity on defense. We’ve tried 10 different styles of defense this season and if we can get good at one style, we will be a good team.

     “We did make a run when we went to a 1-2-2 defense, but Edison shot the ball well.”

     Freshman Tyler Jimison opened up the second half with a rebound and basket to cut the Edison lead to eight points. Cumberland then sank a free throw to bring the Patriots within eight points. A 3-pointer by Keith Lowe, who finished with a game-high 34 points, put the Chargers back up by 10 early in the second half.

     Jimison then sank two baskets to make the score 62-54.

     An oddity in the game was Cumberland’s streak at the free-throw line. The sophomore was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer, followed with ECC receiving a technical foul. The sequence of events gave Cumberland five free throw opportunities. Cumberland made all five attempts to cut the Chargers’ lead to 64-59.

     More free throws were converted by SSCC with Bennington going 2 of 2 and Cumberland tacked on two more points with a basket off the fast break, bringing the Patriots within two points of the lead at 64-60.

     In the middle stages of the final half sophomore Andrew McKay and Jimison brought SSCC back within two points of ECC with timely buckets. Cumberland gave SSCC the lead at the 12:41 mark by nailing a long-range 3-pointer.

     After ECC regained the lead the Patriots again tied the game with two points from freshman Kevin Royal at 74-74.

     That would be the last time SSCC was near the lead, as ECC went on an 11-3 run in a span of less than four minutes to make the score 85-77.

     Points from Bennington, who wrapped up the game with 16 points, brought the Patriots at 87-81, but again, ECC scored multiple baskets to take a 100-81 advantage, (a 13-0 run), leaving 3:56 to play in the game.

     Cumberland sank another 3-pointer with 1:35 remaining, and the final SSCC baskets came from the foul line with Cumberland and Jimison each making two free throws. Jimison finished with 20 points.

     Cumberland, who was recently named the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Player of the Week, finished with a team-high 30 points, scoring 18 points in the second half. The sophomore made four 3-pointers (two in each half) and was 12 of 15 from the free-throw line. Cumberland is averaging 30 points per game this season, as he was a USCAA second-team All-American last season.

     “Edison was collapsing on Tirrell (Cumberland) and (Josh) Hawk in the second half and Tirrell still scores 30 points. He played a good game and is just getting healthy,” Creamer said.

     SSCC was 34 of 45 from the free-throw line. ECC sank nine 3-point shots.

BOX SCORE

SCORE BY HALF

ECC – 57 51 – 108

SSCC – 47 51 – 98

INDIVIDUAL STATS

ECC (108)

Applin 1 (3) 11, Lowe 6 (4) 10-13 34, Gaines 5 0-1 10, Rivers 9 (1) 0-2 21, Fuller 0 2-2 2, Holmes 2 (1) 3-6 10, Bates 2 4-6 8, Ransome 5 10, Snyder 1 0-1 2. TOTALS: 31 (9) 19-31 108.

SSCC (98)

T.Cumberland 3 (4) 12-15 30, T.Jimison 7 (1) 3-4 20, A.McKay 1 (1) 2-2 7, C.Furman 0 1-2 1, K.Royal 2 4, J.Bennington 5 6-8 16, J.Hawk 5 6-8 20. TOTALS: 23 (6) 34-45 98.