On Friday, March 6, at 8:30 p.m., the Presbyterian Blue Hose will face off against the Radford Highlanders in the quarterfinals of the Big South Tournament at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. Both teams are vying for a spot in the semifinals, with Presbyterian holding a record of 14 wins and 17 losses overall, and 7 wins and 9 losses in the Big South Conference.
The Blue Hose recently faced a close challenge against Winthrop, ultimately losing 74-70 despite a strong performance. Redshirt senior forward, whose double-double consisted of 20 points and 10 rebounds, led the team. Junior guard contributed 19 points while a sophomore guard added 12 points, forming the backbone of their scoring efforts. On the season, Pierce has been a standout for Presbyterian, averaging 16.4 points per game, and 18.1 points in conference play. His impressive rebounding abilities have him leading the Big South, ranking 18th nationally with 9.6 rebounds per game, and he holds the distinction of being tied for ninth in the nation for double-doubles this season, with 16 to his name.
Supporting Pierce on the scoreboard is Parrish, who averages 14.4 points per game and has had a remarkable season with 71 three-point field goals, making it the sixth-highest total in the program’s Division I era. The Blue Hose have a roster rich in talent, with ten players contributing at least one three-point field goal this season. Additionally, redshirt junior forward has become an essential piece of the puzzle, averaging 10.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Key contributions also come from Wilson, who ranks second in the Big South in assists with an impressive average of 3.6 per game and has crossed the 100-assist mark this season. He joins an elite group as the seventh player in the program’s D1 history to achieve this milestone. Peterson, in a standout defensive role, has been named the Big South Defensive Player of the Year and is an honorable mention on the All-Big South list, along with Pierce, who garnered First Team All-Big South honors.
The Blue Hose’s recent home victory against Longwood marked their tenth win of the season at home, placing them second in overall wins at the Templeton Center in their DI history. With a shooting percentage of 47.3 percent, Presbyterian ranks second in the Big South and 59th nationally. Their defensive efforts rank them third in the Big South with an average of 4.6 blocks per game and second in scoring defense, allowing opponents 71.7 points per game.
As they prepare for their matchup, the Blue Hose will aim to turn the tide against Radford, who leads the overall series 26-11. Last season, the teams met in the same tournament’s quarterfinals, where Radford secured a victory in overtime. In their regular-season meetings this year, Radford emerged victorious both times, led by forward Dennis Parker Jr., who is currently the top scorer in the conference with an average of 18.6 points per game.
With both teams eager to advance, the game promises to be an exciting and crucial matchup as they each seek to bring home a tournament victory, adding to the rich history of the conference. Fans and supporters are hopeful that the Blue Hose can leverage their past performances and rise to the occasion in this high-stakes tournament setting.