WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah University held a double digit lead early in the second half of its non-conference basketball game against Bridgewater Saturday afternoon, but the Eagles used a sizzling 63.2 percent shooting percentage after the break to take a 78-75 victory over the host Hornets.

The Hornets (4-3) battled back-and-forth with the Eagles (5-2) throughout the early going until a T.J. Mitchell (Fayetteville, N.C./Wilson) jumper from gave the hosts a 30-29 lead with 5:08 remaining in the first. SU eventually expanded this advantage to 46-42 by the break.

After a pair of three-pointers from junior Chris Jenkins (Bristow, Va./Brentsville), Shenandoah got the lead to 10 for the first time at the 19:18 mark of the second.

Unfortunately for the hosts, it was all downhill from that point.

Bridgewater used a solid zone defense to cool the Hornets' hot hand on offense and scored nine points on the other end to trail by just one, 52-51, with 15:29 to go. Neither team would be able to hold a lead greater than five from this point on.

After watching its once proud lead slip away, the Hornets clung to a 2-point lead following a pair of free throws from junior Chris Rhone (Washington, D.C./Northwestern) at the 7:24 mark, but a 9-4 Eagles' run - thanks in part to cold shooting from behind the arc by SU - put the visitors ahead, 73-68, with 3:08 to play.

After cutting the lead to three, Shenandoah looked to Jenkins once again at the 2:24 mark for another three, but the junior could not convert and BC turned the rebound into a quick layup for a five point lead with 2:00 left.

Bridgewater would hang on for the victory despite poor free throw shooting down the stretch (3-for-7 with under a minute to play) because SU was equally cold from the field.

Rhone led all scorers with 26 points and Jenkins added 17, while sophomore James Brodie(Stafford, Va./North Stafford) amassed had a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.

A complete boxscore and play by play can be found at: http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200304/122003.htm

The Hornets will not return to the court until January 6, 2004 when Lycoming (Penn.) visits for the final home non-conference contest of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00.