ETSU men’s basketball team opened the season with a 96-72 blowout exhibition win over the Mars Hill Lions. The Bucs controlled the opening tip and junior college transfer Kevin Tiggs scored the first basket on the first possession.
The Bucs did not look in the rearview mirror after that, storming to a 20-point lead by halftime. Senior Kenyona Swader played a very efficient first half not missing a field-goal attempt, three-point attempt or free throw; he finished the half with 10 points leading all Bucs scorers.
Senior Andrew Reed led the Bucs in rebounding and blocks in only eight minutes of playing time in the first half.
The second half featured the Buc reserves getting some good in-game experience heading toward the regular season opener.
Transfer student Jacolby Davis saw a lot of playing time at point guard and showed the fans why he is pushing Dequan Twilley for the starting point guard spot. Davis finished the game with 10 points and four rebounds. Twilley finished with only two points but had a game high six assists.
Last years A-Sun Player of the Year Courtney Pigram saw a lot of pressure from the Mars Hill defense, but handled it well finishing the game with 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists one of which was an electric alley-oop pass to Tiggs.
Freshman Isiah Brown got 13 minutes for the entire game giving him game experience that he and the Bucs will need as he develops into a low post presence the Bucs sorely need depth at. He finished the game with zero shot attempts but drew contact well, ending the game with 10 free-throw attempts converting half. He finished the game with five points and four rebounds.
The most exciting aspect of Saturday’s game was the return of senior guard Travis Strong after taking a medical redshirt last year.
He reminded the Buc fans that he can still shoot the three hitting three of five beyond the arc and finishing the game with 11 points, a block and a steal.
After the game Strong said he was happy to be back on the floor and that his knee felt good after rehabbing all summer.
Tiggs said that it felt good to be in a Bucs uniform and was all smiles after the game. He said that he and the Bucs are anxious to get the regular season going and that they are excited.
When he was asked about his strengths as a player he said, “I communicate, I talk to my teammates and try to get them talking to me.” When asked to play devil’s advocate and talk about his weaknesses he said, “I play fast, sometimes too fast for my own good.”
One can only assume the response showed that his three turnovers and five fouls were on his mind. When he was asked about getting in foul trouble he laughed saying, “you saw that!”
Coach Murray Bartow saw things that he liked during the game but was clearly frustrated about his team giving up 23 turnovers and 18 offensive rebounds. He was happy he got to play all 13 players as he looks to finalize his rotation to eight or nine guys.
He was pleased that Greg Hamlin got to play coming off of an injury. When he was asked if he had settled into his starting lineup for the year he said that, “the five that started tonight (Twilley, Pigram, Mike Smith, Tiggs, and Reed) is the group I liked.”
He said that Reed had locked down the starting job at the five spot, and Tiggs is playing well enough to start at the four. Bartow did say that Davis is still pushing Twilley at the point but he was more comfortable with Twilley because he has played in the system longer.
The Bucs next game will open regular season play at Dayton on Nov. 10. They will be back home on Nov. 17.

Author