Photograph courtesy of ETSU Athletics
The ETSU men’s basketball team played an exhibition game Thursday night in preparation for coach Steve Forbes’ first season with the Buccaneers.
The Bucs defeated the Tusculum Pioneers 109-77.
The Bucs got off to a fairly slow start in the first 10 minutes of the game before starting their breakaway, leading the Pioneers 27-16 with 7:49 left in the first half.
The Bucs widened their lead to 5031 at halftime. In the first half, Duece Bello went 3-3 from the three-point line and scored 16 points. Bello ended the game with 20 points.
The Bucs shot a 54.5 percent field goal percentage in the first half and were 57.1 percent from three-point range. The Pioneers had a 37.9 field goal percentage in the first half and were 25 percent from three-point range.
One tie and lead change occurred in the game. The biggest lead came with 13:02 left to go in the second half, when the Bucs had a 38-point lead.
In the second half, the Bucs out-scored the Pioneers 59-46, leading them to a 32-point victory.
The Bucs had 53 points coming from the bench, while the Pioneers scored only 39 points from their bench players.
“I wanted to get a chance for everyone to play tonight, and I thought we got a chance to do that,” said Forbes.
Forbes said he would like to have the starting lineup set in stone by the time the conference season starts, but right now it is subject to change.
The Bucs had 20 second-chance points and 19 points when coming off time-outs, while the Pioneers had 10 second-chance points and 12 points when coming off time-outs.
Ge’Lawn Guyn scored 19 points in the game, going 45 from three-point range and playing a total of 22 minutes. He also had three assists and two steals.
ETSU shot a 55.6 field goal percentage, while shooting 76 percent from the free-throw line. The Bucs shot 52.6 percent from three-point range, hitting 10 three-point baskets in the game.
“We still have some things to work on defensively, but I thought that we shot the ball really good tonight,” said Bello.
The Bucs will have nine days off before they open the regular season on Nov. 14 against Averett. The following Tuesday, they will play on national television against Green Bay.
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