WINCHESTER, Va. - The SU men's basketball team prepared itself for the start of the 2003 Dixie Conference schedule with an 86-76 victory over visiting Elizabethtown College Saturday afternoon.

SU (7-2) rebounded from Tuesday's loss at Lycoming College with a 10 point victory over the 2002 NCAA runner-up Blue Jays, but had to hold on to do it. 

The Hornets jumped out to a 51-34 halftime lead and led by as much as 24 in the first half before Elizabethtown (7-5) went on an 18-4 run to start the second to cut the deficit to just two at 55-53 with 12:20 left. 

However, the visitors hopes for the comeback victory were dashed as SU scored the next five points of the contest and held at least a six point lead the rest of the way.

Shenandoah had five players in double figures, led by Chad Brashears' (Hagerstown, Md./St. Maria Goretti) 15 and Tyson Thompson(Keysville, Va./Randolph Henry) with 14.

Junior Halston Camp (Harrisonburg, Va./Harrisonburg) had 12 points and a game high 14 boards.

Senior Jon English had a game high 18 for the Blue Jays; his initial basket of the second half gave him 1000 career points.

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200203/011103.htm 

Shenandoah opens up Dixie Conference action Wednesday evening at home against Christopher Newport University.