HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. - Shenandoah University got a game-winning layup from freshman Kevin Cornell in the waning moments to push the Hornets past host Hampden-Sydney 70-69 and into Saturday's championship game of the Car Coop/Weenie Miller Holiday Classic Friday afternoon at Fleet Gymnasium.

Shenandoah (4-5) faces Albright College in Saturday's 4:00 championship. The Lions defeated NJ City University 70-62 in the second game of the afternoon.

Playing for a second consecutive game without injured senior Onyie Onunaku, the Hornets earned the program's first-ever victory over H-SC (5-4) by erasing a five-point halftime deficit.

Still, it took a layup from Cornell off senior Moutkar Fawehinmi's assist with 12 seconds remaining give coach Robert Harris' club the lead for the final time of the contest. Cornell's bucket capped a stretch in which the two teams traded the lead on 15 occasions and were tied on 10 others. Five of these lead changes came in the second half, including four in the final 6:43.

Shenandoah led by four, 66-62, after freshman Terryn Hamlett made one of two free throws with 3:01 left, but the Tigers scored seven straight points to take a 69-66 lead with just 54 ticks showing. Fawehinmi got it to within one with a layup at the 37 second mark, and then SU forced a turnover with 32 seconds left to set up the final possession.

Hampden-Sydney did manage to take a desperation three-pointer at the buzzer, but Matt Green's attempt was corralled by Cornell.

Fawehinmi led the victors with 20 points while junior Jeremiah Lawrenceadded 15 with a game-high 11 rebounds. H-SC won the battle of the glass 39-36.

Drew Prehmus had 19 and Tyler Murray 14 for the hosts.

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