ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Shenandoah University got its first men's basketball win at NC Wesleyan in five seasons Saturday afternoon with an 85-68 USA South Conference victory over the host Bishops.

SU (10-5, 2-0 USA South) had not won in Everett Gymnasium since beating Wesleyan (6-7, 0-1 USA South) 80-79 on February 7, 1999. The win also marks the first time in the Hornets 10 seasons in the Dixie/USA South that the squad has started the year 2-0.

Shenandoah played perhaps its most solid performance of the second semester in getting the victory; SU bolted to a 6-0 lead and never trailed the rest of the way.

Up by 12, 78-66, with just over three minutes to play, Coach Rob Harris' club iced the game by making seven of eight free throws as the Bishops attempted to get back into the game by putting SU on the line. Senior Chris Jenkins (Bristow, Va./Brentsville) was 3 of 4 while classmate Chris Rhone (Washington, D.C./Northwestern) and freshman Steven Johns (Baltimore, Md./Towson Catholic) were each 2 for 2.

Wesleyan's best chance to get back in the game came on an 8-0 run from the 15:22 to 14:20 marks of the second – the Bishops trailed by just 10, 54-44, after a Lenny Hall layup off of a Ramon Spears feed.

Unfortunately for the home fans, Shenandoah reeled off a 10-3 over the next 4:21 to take a 64-47 lead. Junior Jared Hale (Centreville, Va./Lynchburg) had a pair of three-pointers during this run and NC Wesleyan would get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way. 

Spears led all scorers with 22 points, but Rhone had 20 to go along with 10 rebounds, sophomore Onyie Onunaku (Bristow, Va./Stonewall Jackson) 19 with 10 boards, five assists, three blocks and five steals, Hale 14 points and Jenkins 13 to give SU a balanced attack.

Box Score/Play by Play 

Shenandoah is off until hosting Averett University next Saturday afternoon in a 4:00 USA South Conference contest.