Pioneers Drop Third in a Row to Motlow

By: Nick Kieser

GALLATIN, TENNESSEE — Over the weekend (Jan. 26) the Volunteer State Community College Pioneers (4-13) fell to Motlow State Community College (12-8) by a final score of 78-66.

The final result against Motlow led to the Pioneers taking a third consecutive loss.  No conference game has turned out in the Pioneers favor since January 12 when Roane State visited Gallatin.  The record within the conference is (2-8) after the loss against the Bucks on Saturday.

 "I've got to get some people to make shots.  We don't have that post position.  We need more confidence in the ability we have.  I know that they want to win and the second half we played a different game," said head coach Rusty Melvin.

The second half was a different game as Melvin said.  Dropping 49 points to win the second half but not the game is where the Pioneers did well but however did not get the win.  Playing a full forty-minute basketball game is something as a team the Pioneers feel collectively they need to do to get the wins.

Tim Goodrich dropped a team-high 21 points and following suit was Jabori Murphy netting 12 points on the night. 

"This week we are at home and I hope we win one of the two.  Both teams [Chattanooga State and Cleveland State] are playing good; they swept their games with wins this past weekend.  We are going to have to play defense and hold the score and not get the game into the hundreds," Coach Melvin said.

This weekend the Pioneers host the Chattanooga State Community College Tigers first on Friday (12-8) and second on Saturday the Cleveland State Community College Cougars (9-9) visit.  Both teams coming into Vol State have won at least three out of the last four games played.

Tip-off on Friday evening is at 7:30 p.m. in the Pickel Field House.  To stay updated on the Pioneers follow the team on Twitter@VSCCPioneersMBB.