Pioneers have 21st best combined basketball record in the nation

The Tusculum College men and women’s basketball teams boast the 21st best combined overall record in NCAA Division II, college officials announced Monday. The Pioneers have a combined 28-8 record for a .778 winning percentage, which is tied with Arkansas Tech, West Texas A&M and St. Cloud State.

The women’s basketball team has a 16-2 record and is currently tied for first place in the South Atlantic Conference at 6-1 in league play. Coach Missy Tiber’s squad is currently listed eighth in the country according to the ESPN/USA Today Division II Poll. Tusculum has already clinched its fourth straight winning season and is 42-7 over the last two years.

The Tusculum men are 12-6 overall and are riding a four-game winning streak. Coach Jim Boone has guided the Pioneers to three straight league wins, including Saturday’s 60-55 victory over Wingate that saw the Pioneers rally from an 18-point, second half deficit. Tusculum is 4-3 in conference play and is tied for third in the SAC standings.

The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday as Tusculum travels to cross-mountain rival Mars Hill for a doubleheader at Stanford Arena. The next home game for both teams will be on February 4 – “Pack the Arena Night” in which, hopefully, a new attendance record will be set. No admission will be charged for the games (a doubleheader against conference foe Lincoln Memorial University). The women’s game starts at 6 p.m. and the men’s game follows at 8 p.m.