DANVILLE, Va. – Second seeded Averett University eliminated No. 7 Shenandoah University from the USA South Conference men's basketball tournament with an 80-66 quarterfinal round victory Tuesday night.

The Cougars (19-7) now move onto Friday's semi-finals to take on third seeded Methodist. The Monarchs also advanced Tuesday night – they defeated No. 6 Ferrum 68-56 in Fayetteville.

Averett wasted little time in eliminating the Hornets (9-16) as they shot 61.7 percent from the field in the first half to take a 48-29 lead into the halftime lockerroom. Shenandoah shot 43.3 percent (13 for 30) but found itself in the 19-point hole as they turned the ball over 12 times, were outrebounded 18-13 and had three players pick up at the least three fouls each.

The second half brought more of the same as the hosts scored the first five points of the stanza as SU was held without a bucket for the first 4:01. AU maintained at least a 20 point lead until Jeremiah Lawrence, who had to sit much of the first with foul trouble, converted a layup with 8:48 to play. The two teams then traded three pointers before Averett put the final nail in the coffin with a five-point run from the 8:11 to 7:14 marks.

Shenandoah completed the game on a 12-6 run to provide the final margin of victory.

Lawrence led the visitors with 21 points and eight rebounds; he missed tying the school record for rebounds in a season by two boards but did set a new school mark with an 11.3 rebounds per game average.

Moutkar Fawehinmi backed up Lawrence with 20 points, including two on three-pointers.

Damien Brown had 22 and Sterling Williams and Andrew Boor 14 each for the Cougars.

Box Score/Play by Play