The ETSU men’s basketball team played an exhibition game against Limestone inside Freedom Hall on Nov. 4. In what was the final game before the official season begins, ETSU rolled past the Saints with a final score of 71-56.
ETSU used a 25-5 run to establish a strong lead in the first half and never looked back. With under six minutes to go, the Bucs pushed their lead to 33-13. ETSU, who never trailed in the game, had a lead of 27 on two different occasions.
In the second half, the Bucs continued to control the game. Allen Strothers (Newport News, Va.) made a driving lay-up which put ETSU up 67-36. Limestone finished the game on a 20-4 run to make it a 15-point final.
DeAnthony Tipler (Ashland, Miss.), a transfer from Coastal Carolina, led the Bucs in scoring and finishing with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Another transfer from Virginia Tech, Jalen Haynes (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Bucs. In 20 minutes of play, Jaden Seymour (Charlotte, N.C.) added 11 points, securing five boards and two assists. Jordan King (Albany, N.Y.), who is the lone ETSU player to make the Preseason All-Southern Conference team, finished the game with eight points and five assists.
ETSU shot 50 percent (29-58) while Limestone shot 34 percent (20-59) in what was an excellent defensive showing from the Bucs. The Bucs assisted on 14 of their 29 made field goals while doubling the Saints points in the paint 40-20. ETSU finished the night with a total of 17 turnovers while Limestone had 20. ETSU won the rebounding battle 38-34 with Haynes leading the charge with seven.
Limestone’s leading scorer was Zeb Graham, who tacked on 12 points for his team.
ETSU will open up the regular season on Nov. 7 against Emory & Henry inside Freedom Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. In the Southern Conference Preseason Coaches Poll, ETSU is placed 6th.
