WINCHESTER, Va. - Visiting Southern Virginia University erased a
double-digit second half deficit Wednesday evening to steal an
82-79 non-conference men's basketball victory over host Shenandoah.
The Knights (7-3) trailed the entire contest until Ade Swan
finished off a fast break layup with 25 seconds to play. Shenandoah
(1-6) missed a jumper on its ensuing possession with SVU grabbing
the rebound.
SU fouled immediately coming out of a timeout, and Southern
Virginia hit two of three from the line down the stretch to ice the
victory.
The Hornets did have the final possession of the game, but Brandon Bryan's
three-point attempt to tie rimmed out as time expired.
The second half collapse marred a stellar performance by the SU
starters. Junior Mitch Dudley led
all scorers with 22 points with Kevin Kline adding 20,
Kenny
Robertson 14 and Bryan 12 with eight assists.
Dudley also just missed his third double-double of the season
with nine rebounds.
The Hornets also hurt themselves with a cold showing at the free
throw line - SU was just 9 for 20 for the game (45 percent) and
missed 6 of 7 opportunities from the stripe in the final 2:42.
The hosts appeared to be in total control of the contest as
coach Rob Harris' squad reeled off a 12-4 run midway through the
second to take a 68-51 lead with 10:51 to play.
Unfortunately, the Knights had other ideas. Southern Virginia
scored 25 of the game's next 36 points to cut the deficit to three,
79-76, with 58 seconds remaining and then used two missed free
throws, a turnover and a missed field goal to finally take its
initial lead of the contest.
Bryce Pendleton and Swan both had 18 points each for the
Knights.
Shenandoah is off for the next 10 days and returns to the court
on December 12 with a 2:00 contest at Virginia Wesleyan.
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