Mountain State tops Morris 109-61

From staff reports
For The Register-Herald

January 30, 2009 12:32 am

— SUMTER, S.C. — Mountain State had no trouble in a gym where it had historically struggled in the past.
The Cougars rolled to a 109-61 win Thursday night at Morris University.
The game was never in doubt as MSU led 53-28 at the break.
“We really handled their pressure well and shot a tremendous percentage (from the field in the first half),” MSU coach Bob Bolen said. “I am very pleased with this win. I thought we had a good team last year and we came down here and won by five. I’m real proud of our guys.”
Mountain State went over the 100 barrier for the 11th time this season — and first on the road, where the Cougars are 4-1 — on a Bo Harris free throw with 6:15 left in the game.
No. 3 MSU (17-2) was led by A.J. Pigram’s 20 points. Nick Aldridge had 19 points and Andrew Lee had 19 points and 12 rebounds. Marcus Hunter had 14 points, Greg Grimes 12 and Ermin Tarcin 11.
The Cougars shot 64.5 percent for the game and outrebounded Morris 41-31. MSU was also 21-of-24 at the free throw line, a place from which it had struggled of late.
“We worked on it a lot this week and I know we have good shooters,” Bolen said. “It just carried over.”
Morris was led by Nate Thomas, who had a game-high 26 points, and Chris Owens added 11.
Mountain State will continue its southern swing with a game at Life Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. Life is led by Tay Barber, who had a 40-point game in a win over Crichton last week that helped him earn NAIA national player of the week honors. MSU’s Lee was the national player of the week two weeks ago.