Pioneers’ Comeback Efforts Fall Short Against CVCC

SPARTANBURG, SC- In their first post-holiday break game, the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers men's basketball team took a tight 70-66 loss Friday night to the Catawba Valley Community College Buccaneers.

The Pioneers struggled offensively to get points on the board during the first half, while their defense was keeping them in the game. But the Pioneers found themselves down 26 to 33 at halftime.

"After coming out with a quick start, we just as quickly could see that our 30-day layoff was going to take its toll on us," said coach Rob Burke.

Heading back onto the court after the half, the Buccaneers controlled the offense and continued to separate themselves from the Pioneers.

With 5:08 left in the second half and down 63 to 47, Burke called a time-out for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers' offense picked up after the time-out, while their defense continued working to hold the Buccaneers.

At the 18-second mark, the Pioneers closed the gap to only two points.

Freshmen DJ Glover (St. Matthews, SC / Calhoun County HS) and DJ Brown (Belton, SC / Wren HS) had 19 points each for the game.

"We really didn't get anything done except for speed the game up with seven minutes to play. Our full court pressure created some opportunities that allowed us to get back in the game to make it a one possession game," commented Burke

"In the end they made their free throws and it finalized our fate," he added.

 The Pioneers overall record stands at 9-5, with no regional matches yet played. The next game for the Pioneers is a 7 pm tipoff at Anderson University on January 14th.

 Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The College is in its 99th year of providing quality education to students in a Christian environment.  More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.

For more information, contact sports information director Susie Williams at (864) or 587-4008 or (864) 285-7516.