WINCHESTER, Va. - The SU men's basketball team used a 20-point first half performance from junior Chris Rhone (Washington, D.C./Northwestern) to key a 99-67 USA South Conference victory over visiting Ferrum College Tuesday night.
Shenandoah (13-8 overall, 9-3 USA South) clinched its second winning season in the last three years under coach Robert Harris. Tuesday night was also Harris' 100th career game as SU coach and he evened his overall record at 50-50 with the win over the Panthers (8-15, 2-10).
The victory also allows SU to keep pace with idle Greensboro for second place in the conference. The Hornets and Pride trail league leader Methodist by one game heading into the final weekend of conference play. With Harris' club scheduled to face both Methodist and Greensboro, the Hornets control their own fate as to their conference finish. Two SU wins and the Hornets will own their first-ever outright USA South title.
Shenandoah wasted little time in taking control Tuesday night before a packed house in the home finale. SU jumped out to a 15-3 lead in the first 4:55 of the contest as Rhone scored 11 of his game high 29 points in this span. The guard made his first three shots and six of eight as Ferrum struggled to stop him.
The Panthers threatened to make it interesting by scoring the next eight points of the game, but SU quickly ran its lead back into double digits. FC would close it to as close as five at 33-28 with 2:23 left, but a 7-2 Hornets run to finish the half effectively ended any chances of a Ferrum upset.
Shenandoah maintained a double digit lead for all but approximately three minutes in the second half, but after Kenneth Purnell (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton) nailed two free throws at the 13:53 mark, the Hornets pulled away.
All 14 players saw action for the second straight game; 11 of the 14 scored and Purnell backed up Rhone's 29 with 20 of his own. Senior Chad Brashears (Hagerstown, Md./St. Maria Goretti) had 14 points off the bench.
Kendrick Holley and Kevin Aigbe had 13 and Darrian Jones 12 for the Panthers.
A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200304/021704.htm
Shenandoah completes its regular season this weekend with games at Methodist and Greensboro, respectively. If SU wins and Greensboro loses Saturday, the Hornets will clinch at least a tie for the regular season crown.
