PULASKI, Tenn. – Two days after knocking off No. 16 Mobile, Blue Mountain returned to SSAC action Saturday, but this time fell to (RV) UT-Southern 79-73.
The Firehawks spoiled a 31-point performance from Blue Mountain's Ty Pickron who would hit seven threes in the game to lead his team.
The first half went quick as the officials let the two teams play.  The Toppers struggled shooting from the field.  Blue Mountain would go almost three minutes without a goal in the opening half until Keevin Etienne broke the drought with a bucket.
Manny Patrick would get going offensively before the half to lead Blue Mountain with nine points and four boards while Brady Brown led the Firehawks with 10 points and five boards, as UTS took a 40-25 lead into the half.
Pickron came out in the second half with a three and a deuce for the Toppers, but Brown kept UTS out frot with some big shots.
Patrick, Pickron and Darien Newchurch got the Toppers to within seven by hitting timely threes on consecutive possessions, making it 47-40 UTS at the 13:45 mark.
Patrick and Pickron would continue to shoot the Toppers back into it with both making key threes once more to cut the lead to 56-51.
The Toppers would shoot eight-straight threes at one point in the second half, as most were falling.
Patrick would have his second-straight strong game, finishing with 20 points, five boards and five steals.
The Toppers finished 12-of-32 from deep while UTS was 8-of-27.  The Firehawks didn't miss the bucket much, as they shot 50 percent from the field while the Toppers shot 38 percent.
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Toppers.  BMCU (7-6, 1-4 SSAC)) will now go on Christmas break until Saturday, Dec. 30 when they will host Faulkner in SSAC action in Blue Mountain at 2 p.m. CT. 
 
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