CLINTON, S.C. (Nov. 8, 2025) – Presbyterian scored 11 of the final 15 points and 19 of the final 27 to defeat the ETSU men's basketball team 68-64 at the Templeton Center on Saturday. 

The Buccaneers (1-1) found themselves in a hole early as the Blue Hose (2-1) went on a 12-0 run to take a 14-2 lead with 5:28 gone in the game. The Bucs outscored their hosts 24-11 in the remainder of the period with baskets from seven different players, surging to their first lead of the game on the back of a 13-2 run over the final 6:33 of the half capped by a Blake Barkley layup off a baseline inbound play as time expired. 

The lead stretched to as large as five points when Allen Strothers hit a two-point jumper 1:10 into the second half, but Carl Parrish hit back-to-back threes to put the Blue Hose back in front. Jaylen Smith put ETSU back in front, but Parrish struck again and converted a three-point play opportunity to put PC in front 34-33 with 15:30 to go. 

The Bucs took the lead back on a 9-2 run that featured four free throws and a three from Barkley, but the Blue Hose answered again when Josh Pickett hit two threes in 49 seconds to get the home side back on top. Morris got ETSU the lead back with a made three and a three-point play, and Brian Taylor II stretched it when he drilled a left-corner three and hit a right-handed floater in the lane on the following possession. When the Blue Hose threatened yet again, Brayden Crump stepped into his first three of the season to have the Bucs up 58-54 at the under-four media timeout. 

Presbyterian retook the lead with 1:38 left when Jonah Pierce hit the back end of two free throws to make it 61-60, and Jaylen Peterson made a spectacular jumper backward over his head plus the foul to make it 65-60 and seal the game for the Blue Hose.

Morris fouled out with 17 points in 25 minutes to lead the Buccaneers while Taylor had 13. Smith led ETSU with five rebounds and three assists. As a team, ETSU shot 39% from the field, 24% from three, and 76% at the line. They lost the rebounding margin 33-31 but won turnovers 16-12 and scored 19 points off Presbyterian's 16 turnovers. 

The Bucs return home to host Northern Kentucky for the first time since 2017 on Wednesday at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at ETSUTickets.com. 

For more information on ETSU men's basketball, go to ETSUBucs.com.