AMERICUS -- Kevaughn Price put together a historic night as his team-high 13 points led the Sand Sharks to a 92-91 win over Georgia Southwestern Saturday night, but he also scored his 458th career point in a USCB uniform to become the program's all-time leading scorer. The Pittsburgh native has scored 1,016 points during his collegiate career, scoring 558 at Butler County Community College prior to his time in the Lowcountry.
Beaufort had seven players score in double figures. Dominc Eason finished with 12, Kenney Gaines, Hudson Norton, and Tasso Sfanos each had 11, and both Dylan Lewis and Kyle Polce added 10 apiece.
USCB jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished the lead throughout the period. GSW tied it at 16 but it answered with three consecutive baskets by the Sand Sharks. Beaufort extended its lead to as large as 10 with under five minutes to play and the Canes cut it to four, but Polce connected with a three-pointer, forcing Georgia Southwestern timeout. After the timeout the Hurricanes made two straight baskets, but USCB still held a two-possession lead at halftime.
The teams exchanged baskets as the second half opened and the fast-paced offensive attack from both teams was on display. USCB took a 12-point lead with just over 11 minutes and the Hurricanes burned a timeout to slow down USCB's momentum. The scoring didn't stop though as both Price and Alejandro Ralat scored a quick five points, making it a 15-point game. The lead evaporated not long after that though as GSW tied the game at 80 and then took the lead from the charity stripe.
Georgia Southwestern took a five-point lead but USCB answered with a two-handed jam from Norton and Polce hit nothing by net from beyond the arc to give the Sand Sharks the lead right back. The Hurricanes countered with quick run to take a three-point lead, but Norton's drive to the basket counted, drew the foul, and made the three-point play the old-fashioned way and it was knotted up at 89 with under two to play.
Gaines drained a three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring gave the Sand Sharks the lead and GSW knocked down two from the free throw but failed to foul with eight seconds to go and USCB held on for the 92-91 victory.
The Sand Sharks return home to the Lowcountry on Wednesday for weeknight contest with Georgia College. The two teams split the series last year, each taking the game on the road. Tipoff against the Bobcats is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside the Cove.
