Motlow’s Darius Harding (5), a freshman guard from Elizabethtown, Ky., puts up a shot while teammate Marcus Lacey gets in position for the rebound during Saturday’s 84-58 win over Volunteer State at Copperweld Arena. Harding leads the team in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game. [Photo by Jeff Reed Photography])
The Bucks (3-0, 6-5) have now won three consecutive games. Motlow went on the road last week and downed Lawson State 90-76 in Birmingham and Wallace State 70-65 in Hanceville. The Bucks will take their unbeaten TCCAA conference record on the road this weekend, playing at Cleveland State Friday and Chattanooga State Saturday.
Saturday’s win over the Pioneers was never in doubt as the Bucks surged to a 36-18 lead at the half. Neither team shot the ball especially well, with Motlow connecting on 40.7 percent of its shots from the field and Volunteer State 34.4 percent. The Bucks did hit 13-38 three pointers and made 7-10 from the free-throw line.
Josh Endicott led the Bucks with 15 rebounds while adding seven points and a pair of blocked shots. Marcus Lacey had 10 points and 10 boards, Kin Webster secured 10 rebounds with two points and two assists.
Darius Harding scored 11 points, with Jarius Key scoring 10 and adding six rebounds. Leo Castillo scored eight points with nine rebounds, four assists and two steals, Josh Greer had nine points, five rebounds and three assists, and Jayvon Humphrey scored nine points with five rebounds and four assists.
In last Wednesday’s win over Wallace State the Bucks had to overcome a 40-34 deficit at halftime. Motlow was led by Harding’s 28 points, including connecting on 6-10 three pointers, and Castillo’s double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bucks also had to come from behind in the final 20 minutes to beat Lawson State last Monday, trailing at the intermission 37-30 before outscoring Lawson 60-39 in the final 20 minutes. Harding led the way with 22 points and Endicott and Lacey had double-doubles, with Endicott scoring 18 points with 11 rebounds and Lacey 10 points and 10 boards.
