St. Andrews holds off Limestone 87-77
STAFF REPORTS

Junior forward Joseph Gripper scored 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half to help host St. Andrews Presbyterian College hold off Conference Carolinas foe Limestone College, 87-77, on Monday night in Harris Court.

The Knights, who improved to 4-12 overall and 3-6 in the league, shot a season-best 57.4-percent from the field en route to their second victory in three days. Senior Marques Williams kept the visitors in the game late, hitting five of his gamehigh seven 3-pointers in the second half.

Williams finished with a game-high 25 points for the Saints, who fell to 2- 11 and 0-8.

St. Andrews sealed the victory by hitting 24-of-31 free throws, including 21 in the final 20 minutes, but the 3-point line kept Limestone within reach.

The Saints, who lead the conference in three-pointers per game, drilled 16 treys but only made 5-of-12 free throws.

Marcus Hoke's three-pointer gave St. Andrews a 16-8 lead just 6:30 into the contest. The Knights, who never trailed, continued to build on their lead on a three-point play by Gripper, which extended the lead to 27-8.

Limestone closed the margin with a 26-12 run over the next seven minutes that included a trio of threepointers by junior Andre Coleman.

The Knights held a 10-point advantage four minutes into the second half, but a quick 8-0 burst by the Saints, capped by a senior Kenny White's three-pointer, pulled Limestone within two. Gripper helped St. Andrews regain a doubledigit lead three minutes later with back-to-back baskets from behind the arc.