The Skyliner

Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Joseph Huntley Drive to the hoop: Austin Randel, sophomore undecided, cuts through the lane like a warm knife through butter on Jan. 29 against the Atlanta Christian College Chargers. Randel led the Crusaders in scoring, collecting 29 points in the game. The Crusaders trampled the Chargers 82-69. NGU finished the week with a record of 1-2, losing to Lincoln Memorial University and Limestone College later in the week.

Media Credit: Joseph Huntley 'Not in my house': Kyler Vitko, sophomore undecided, stuffs the shot of Chris Cooper, a freshman guard from Atlanta Christian College.

Chase Gratz
Staff Writer


On Tuesday Jan. 29, the North Greenville Crusaders squared off against Atlanta Christian College at home in Hayes Gymnasium.

The Crusaders played a solid first half leaving them with a 45-33 lead at the intermission.

The Crusaders played the second half with the same intensity that helped them build their halftime lead.

The Atlanta Christian College Chargers were never able to gain the lead after halftime and fell to the Crusaders 82-69. NGU's record improved to 5-12 on the season with the win.

"Tuesday was a good win for us. It was much needed for confidence. I feel our execution was better and we reduced our turnovers. The competition was tough, and it was not a blowout by any means," head coach Chad Lister said.

Guard Austin Randel, sophomore undecided, was the Crusader's leading scorer with 29 points. Kyler Vitko, sophomore undecided, and Nathan Wilson, freshman business administration, both had double-doubles. Wilson had 17 points and 14 rebounds while Vitko chipped in with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Adam Griggs, senior accounting, also contributed 10 points in the winning effort. Tyler Mains, freshman accounting/biology, also dished out 12 assists.

"I feel this game was a real coming out for
Tyler, " Lister said.

NGU then hosted the Lincoln Memorial University Railsplitters on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

The Crusaders seemed caught off guard by the Railsplitters' fast paced playing style.

The Crusader's efficient play making before halftime brought them back in the game with a deficit of four points at halftime. The Railsplitters led the game 39-35.

The Crusaders were not able to pull ahead during the second half and fell to Lincoln Memorial by a final of 90-76.

"I don't know why we weren't ready to play during the beginning of the game, but we hung in there, didn't get frustrated and made some good plays to get back in the game," Lister said.

Fan participation was at a season high on Wednesday night.

"No question the fans held up their end of the bargain and were great on Wednesday night. Their support was tremendous and we need them back for the rest of our home games," Lister said.

Randel grabbed 6 rebounds and was North Greenville's top scorer again with 26 points. Griggs contributed 19 points to the scoring, while Mains put up 11 points and had 5 assists.

The win over Lincoln Memorial left the Crusader's record at 5-13.

On Feb. 2, Limestone College nailed 12 threes on the way to defeating NGU, 63-55. The Saints took a nine-point lead into halftime that the Crusaders could not overcome.

Griggs led the Crusaders in scoring with 19 points, and Randel followed with 18 of his own.

NGU will host Carson-Newman University tonight at 7 p.m., and will play Livingstone College at 4 p.m.

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