Saturday, February 12, 2005

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 12, 2005) - Senior guard James Anthony (Tampa, Fla.) scored a career high 30 points and set an East Tennessee State single-game record with eight 3-point baskets, as the Buccaneers raced to a 35-point halftime lead and went on to take a 105-78 victory over Southern Conference rival UNC Greensboro Saturday afternoon in front of 4,142 fans at Memorial Center.

Along with Anthony's record, the Bucs matched the program record for 3-pointers in a single game with 15, as junior guard Tim Smith (Newport News, Va.) scored 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the floor and sophomore guard Travis Strong (Memphis) was 3-of-5 from 3-point range for 18 points.

"If we could tie a ribbon around that first half we would win a lot of games," said ETSU head coach Murry Bartow. "We came out yesterday with a lot of energy in practice and I think that momentum carried into today. I thought Travis got us off to a quick start, Timmy was vintage Timmy, and James was just sensational."

The Bucs (7-16 overall, 3-10 SoCon) opened the game with easily their most productive first half of the season, shooting 68 percent from the floor and scoring 64 points to take a 35-point lead at the intermission. The 3-point shooting of Anthony and the slashing style of Smith highlighted the offensive outburst, as Anthony went 5-of-7 from beyond the arc and Smith was 8-of-10 from the floor. The two netted 19 points apiece before the break.

In the second half, ETSU was primarily on cruise control. However, the Bucs still managed to hit an additional six 3-pointers and freshman Greg Surmacz (Peterborough, Ontario) capped the day and tied the school record with his long-range shot from the corner with 2:47 left in the game. The last time the Bucs hit 15 3-pointers in a game was on Feb. 18, 1991, against Memphis.

Anthony, who finished with a team-high 30 points, bested the school record of seven 3-pointers, which was set by Dimeco Childress against Vanderbilt on Nov. 24, 2000. Along with the offensive production of Anthony, Smith and Strong, the Bucs dominated the glass thanks to 15 rebounds from junior forward Dillion Sneed (Chicago). The Bucs out-rebounded the Spartans 44-34 in the game.

ETSU shot 54 percent from the floor (42-of-78) and 15-of-25 from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Bucs forced 24 UNCG turnovers, collected 17 steals, and held the Spartans to 45 percent shooting from the floor.

For UNCG, Ronnie Burrell scored a game-high and career-high 33 points, while Ricky Hickman and Ray Bristow pitched in 16 and 12 points, respectively.

            The Spartans will return to SoCon action on the road Monday night against Chattanooga at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, the Bucs will remain at home to host Western Carolina in Memorial Center at 7 p.m.