FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE -- January 6 2007
CONTACT: Glyn Turner 585,567,9648
#4 Point Park
Escapes Upset By Last Second Jumper
88-86
Box Score
Pittsburgh, PA- All that separated the
Houghton Highlander's Men's Basketball team from upsetting the unbeaten (16-0)
#4 Nationally Ranked NAIA Div. 2 Point Park University Pioneers, was a last
second jump shot from Pioneer Guard Ryne Liggins to seal the game 88-86. The
Highlanders led the Pioneers with a 9 point lead early in the second half.
The game was laced with 28 lead changes with
neither team holding a lead for long. The Highlanders took a one point
lead going into half time 40-39 before extending the lead to 9 points. The game
went back and forth coming down to the last minute of play with the Highlanders
down 3 points (86-83) with 30 seconds left,
Cork McMullen
(Sr. Castile, N.Y.)
hit the game tying 3 pointer (86-86). Which sent Point Park into
scramble mode to quickly hit the game winner.
The Men's Basketball team is a much improved ball
club from last year, still standing with a 6-6 overall record for the season.
The Highlanders have only suffered defeat to nationally ranked opponents in the
NAIA and to high caliber teams in NCAA Div. 1 & 3.
The Highlanders have struggled putting away high
caliber ball clubs like Walsh, Point Park and R.I.T. this season.
"It's just part of teaching our guys how to win
ball games, we haven't been in this type of position in a number of seasons,"
said Highlanders Head Coach Brad Zarges. "Our defense has made the difference
for us, we have turned teams over all year frustrating the best competition in
the country. It is exciting to know we are going to take away as much as we can
from our opponents, we just need to get over the hump. " The Highlanders held
Point Park well below their season averages in both field goal and 3pt field
goal percentage.
The Highlanders have already made strides this
season surpassing the amount of wins accumulated in the previous two season's.
"We have so much to work on, the excitement for
basketball and this program is at a very high level."
The Highlanders have the best defense in the AMC
holding opponents to 69.1 points per game.
The Highlanders were led tonight by
Luke Mortenson
(Sr. Greenville, N.Y.) with 19 points
who went 7-15 FG and 3-5 3pt FG behind the line.
Ahmed Abdelhamid (Fr, Auckland, New Zealand)
notched up his first career double-double scoring 16
points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists off 7-10 FG shooting.
Corky McMullen
(Sr. Castile, N.Y)
scored double digit's with 13 points and 4 assists and
Yannick Anzuluni (Fr.
Ottawa, ON)
scored 14 points and 8 rebounds before fouling out.
Next week is big for the Highlanders with three conference
double-headers. Starting on Tuesday January 9th for the men is; Daemen College tip-off at
8:00 pm, Friday January 12th against
Myers University at 8:00 pm, and Saturday January 13th against Notre Dame College at
4:00 pm.
Houghton College
has deep
and
solid
roots in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, where our
teams use their commitment to excellence, both on the field-of-play
and
in the classroom, as a platform for their strong and
unique emphasis on Sports Ministry. Their goal is to make a difference
for the Kingdom
on campus, in Allegany County,
in the Northeast and
around
the world.
Houghton is one of only 13 institutions who have been hand-selected
by the NAIA to serve as "Champions of Character" Program Centers, opening the door
for Houghton to be a leader,
both in the Northeast and
nationally, in character education.
Through hands-on,
innovative community outreach initiatives, Houghton coaches and
student-athletes
are working together to change the culture of sport and
to change our culture through sport.
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