DANVILLE, Va. - Shenandoah University ended a seven-year
road losing streak to Averett University Sunday afternoon with a
64-62 USA South Conference men's basketball victory over the
Cougars.
The win also puts SU (6-11, 3-1 USA South) in first place in the
league as the squad completed a road sweep over Ferrum and Averett
for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
Trailing 62-61 after Michael St. John gave the Cougars (6-10,
3-2) what proved to be their last lead on a layup with 1:11
remaining, the Hornets missed a jumper before seeing Brandon Malone
miss a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 19 seconds left.
Following a time-out, Shenandoah advanced the ball into the
frontcourt, where backup point guard Lenzie Adams
began his drive with about 10 seconds on the clock.
Adams, who was in the game because starter Kenny Robertson
fouled out just 4:20 into the second half, drew the double-team and
dished to Mitch Dudley right
under the basket.
Dudley laid the ball in for the game-winning points and was
fouled on the play, sending him to the line to give SU a possible
two-point lead.
The foul was the fifth on Averett leading scorer Kenny Hart, and
AU immediately called timeout prior to Dudley going to the line in
order to set up a play.
Following Dudley's successful free throw, Malone drove baseline
before he was bumped out of bounds with :00.7 on the clock. SU then
inbounded the ball for the victory.
Dudley and Chris Schrader led
the victors with 15 points apiece while Malone had 17 for Averett.
The two teams traded the lead seven times and were tied on two
other occasions in the first half; SU had the last of those as
Robertson finished off a 6-1 run with a layup to give the Hornets a
27-26 lead with 2:03 remaining in the first.
The two teams then traded baskets, Shenandoah scoring on a Kevin
Kline layup, to give the visitors a 29-28 lead at the
break.
There were 10 lead changes and four ties in the final 20
minutes.
Shenandoah is off until hosting Greensboro Saturday at 4:00
in a USA South Conference contest.
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