Fleet Open Season With Win
The Erskine men's basketball team opened their season Tuesday with an 85-77 win over Emmanuel College, behind 17 points each from sophomores Darrin Quarles and Colibar Matos.
Erskine took a 40-36 lead at the half despite hitting only 39 percent (16-41) of their field goal attempts. Matos led the Fleet with four first half three-pointers.
The second half saw Erskine claim leads as big as 12 points but the Fleet could never put Emmanuel away. Emmanuel got as close as 51-50 in the second period, but a Brandon Burris breakaway basket and a Quarles three-pointer put the Fleet up by six and Emmanuel never got closer.
Burris, a freshman, added 11 points. Senior Hunter Roark and sophomore Jeff Wiersma, back after an October hernia operation, led Erskine with 8 rebounds each.
Although Erskine won its opener, Coach Mark Peeler said, "We did not play very well tonight. I think the nerves of the first game had a lot to do with it. We made mistakes we just can't make. Yet, we come away with a win and after what we went through last year that means a lot.
"I was happy for Darrin and Colibar that they shot the ball well," Peeler said. "Hopefully, we will get better defensively and cut down on silly mistakes."
Erskine (1-0) next plays at home against CVAC foe Limestone, in the conference opener for both teams, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
The loss dropped Emmanuel to 2-5 on the season.
