ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - In a game that featured five ties and 11 lead changes, Donta Jenkins' put back a Keith Sudler miss with .6 remaining to give host NC Wesleyan a 55-53 USA South Conference victory over Shenandoah. 

Wesleyan (12-8 overall, 5-4 USA South) won for the third time in the last four games, while SU (10-8, 6-3) saw its school record tying five-game conference winning streak snapped. 

Much as in the team's first meeting in Winchester on January 17, the hosts jumped out to a halftime lead only to see the visitors get back into it with a run early in the second half. 

NCWC held a 26-19 lead at the break, but a 15-3 Hornets run to start the second put Shenandoah on top 34-29 with 15:22 remaining. SU was able to extend this lead to as many as eight points with 12:29 left, but the Bishops had an answer for their opponent's run. 

Wesleyan scored 10 of the game's next 13 points to tie the contest at 47-47 with 6:03 showing. In the final six minutes, their were four lead changes and four ties until the Bishops gained the final possession on a Ryan Sinclair steal with 17 seconds remaining. 

Sudler backed his man in and shot a turnaround jumper from six-feet that came up short; the ball bounced around the rim three times before Donta Jenkins tapped the ball in as the clock ran out. 

The referees put .6 back on and SU inbounded the ball to Kenneth Purnell following a time out. Purnell's shot from just before half court went off the backboard, but was too high. 

Sudler led all scorers with 22 points, while Chris Jenkins (Bristow, Va./Nokesville) had 16 and Chris Rhone (Washingbton, D.C./Northwestern) 14 for the Hornets. 

Donta Jenkins was tops on the boards with 13, none more important than his last. 

A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200304/020704.htm 

Shenandoah travels to Chowan tomorrow for a 2:00 USA South contest.