Scruggs And Asheville Hand Lowgators Third Straight Home Loss

The victory was the seventh straight for Asheville, improving to 10-6. The league-leading Lowgators dropped to 13-5 with their third consecutive home loss.

The lead changed hands 14 times. The score was tied 17 times. The North Charleston led 25-22 after the first quarter while Asheville took a 42-39 at the half. North Charleston battled back to take a 58-57 lead after the third period but it was Asheville who came out on top at the end of regulation.

North Charleston was close in most categories except for free throws, which made the difference in the game. Asheville shot 76.5 % from the foul line while North Charleston shot only 53.3%.

“Being down to nine (players) and looking down there and having two subs at the end; I got a little nervous that I would have to suit up myself,” Asheville Coach Meyer said. “It was a great game and we were real fortunate to win.”

“I am real proud of those guys,” Coach Meyer continued. “Lee Scruggs stepped up and made some big shots down the stretch and Rusty LaRue did a great job of leading us.”

Paul Grant scored 21 points and grabbed a team-high of 12 rebounds, but it was Rusty LaRue who hit a key-three point basket to take a 78-77 lead over the Lowgators with 1:09 left in the game. North Charleston took one last shot to regain the lead with a missed three-point basket by Chris Robinson with 33.2 seconds left, but Jimmy King grabbed the rebound to seal the victory. Johnny Hemsley scored 14 points to round out double figure scorers.

“I don’t know if we’re getting nervous down the stretch,” North Charleston Coach English said. “We’re not taking care of the ball. We’re turning the ball over and not playing good defense.”

“We’re trying to maintain a home court advantage and we can’t do it this way,” Coach English continued. “Nobody’s stepping up and playing smart.”

Fred House had 17 points to pace North Charleston. Sedric Webber followed with 16 points and grabbed a team-high of 13 rebounds. Neil Edwards had a season-high, 12 points and Chris Robinson finished with 10 points to round out double figure scorers. B.J. McKie tied a season-high, dishing out 10 assists.

North Charleston and Asheville play again Saturday in Asheville. Tip off is 5 p.m. The game will be telecast on Fox Sports Net South. That game is the first of four consecutive TV games for North Charleston.

Game Quotes
North Charleston vs. Asheville

North Charleston, English:
“I don’t know if we’re getting nervous down the stretch. We’re not taking care of the ball. We’re turning the ball over. We’re not playing good defense. We’ve lost three games in a row at home. We’re trying to maintain a home court advantage, we can’t do it this way. We’ve got to find a way to get some momentum down the stretch because we’re not getting it from everybody. We’re turning the ball over. Nobody’s stepping up. We’re not being very smart. So we’ve got a lot to work on and unfortunately we don’t have the kind of practice time to work on it.”

Asheville, Meyer:
“Being down to nine and looking down there and having two subs at the end, I got a little nervous that I would have to suit up myself. But, it was a great game and we were real fortunate to win. “I’m real proud of those guys. Lee Scruggs stepped up and made some big shots down the stretch and Rusty LaRue did a great job of leading us.”