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From staff reports
For The Register-Herald
DENMARK, S.C. — When Mountain State needed it most, Ralph Legg showed why he is a preseason All-American.
Legg scored 11 of his 18 points during a run early in the second half to trigger the Cougars’ 79-65 season-opening win over Brewton-Parker in the Voorhees College Tipoff Classic.
“I thought there was a stretch in the second half where Ralph Legg really took over the game,” MSU coach Bob Bolen said. “We really needed that scoring from him, and he gave it to us.”
Yusef Baker, the only starter returning from last year’s 29-3 team, added 17 points in the victory.
Bolen also pointed to production off the bench as a key to the win.
Tyrice Watkins, Aaron Owens, Papa Gassama and Emmanuel Coulibaly contributed 22 points off the bench.
“We brought in some guys off the bench that gave us a spark,” Bolen said, naming the four players. “The came in a scored and contributed in several ways to help us get this win.”
MSU was helped by 30 Baron turnovers while committing just 14 itself.
Warren Beaulah had 18 points for Brewton-Parker (0-1), Adam Holmes had 12 and Tony Deberry and Brad Wilson had 10 each.
MSU will have to amp it up a notch, Bolen said, for today’s matchup with Trevecca Nazarene, an NAIA tournament Sweet 16 participant last year.
For starters, Trevecca beat Union twice. Union handed MSU two of its three losses last season.
“No question, we’ll have to play a lot better,” Bolen said. “We’re just happy to get this win. We have a lot of new faces and that showed at times. So it’s nice to get one in the win column.
The MSU-Trevecca game tips off at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast live on WTNJ 105.9-FM.
MSU (79)
Renardo Dixon 4-5 0-0 9, Yusaf Baker 7-12 3-4 17, Ralph Legg 7-11 0-0 18, Jarvis Jackson 3-6 0-0 6, Adron Marshall 2-8 3-4 7, Emmanuel Coulibaly 2-3 0-0 6, Tyrice Watkins 2-2 0-0 4, Aaron Owens 2-3 0-0 5, Papa Gassama 3-4 0-0 7 . Totals: 32-54 6-8 79.
Brewton-Parker (65)
Doctavious French 0-1 0-0 0, James Stokeling 2-4 0-0 5, Warren Beaulah 7-9 2-2 18, Tony Deberry 4-8 0-0 10, Larry Patrick 2-4 0-1 4, Nate Chase 0-1 0-0 0, Bradley Wilson 4-4 0-0 10, Derek Muse 1-1 0-0 2, Adam Holmes 4-4 0-0 12, George Fudge 2-4 0-0 4. Totals: 26-40 2-5 65.
Half-time: 31-30 MSU Three-point goals: MSU: 9-13 (Dixon 1-1, Baker 0-1, Legg 4-6, Marshall 0-1, Coulibaly 2-2, Owens 1-1, Gassama 1-1; BPU: 11-15 (Stokeling 1-2, Beaulah 2-2, Deberry 2-4, Patrick 0-1, Wilson 2-2, Holmes 4-4, ; Rebounds: MSU: 17 (Dixon 5, BPU: 21 (Patrick 7), Assists: MSU: 17 (Marshall 7), BPU: 7 (Deberry 2, Wilson 2) Fouled out: None. |
