WINCHESTER, Va. - Shenandoah University completed its first
round of USA South Conference men's basketball play Sunday
afternoon with a 113-98 victory over winless Methodist University.
Shenandoah (7-12, 4-2 USA South) set a new school record for
field goal percentage in the win over MU (0-17, 0-5).
The Hornets were 37 of 58 (63.8 percent) from the field,
including 19 of 28 (67.9 percent) in the second half as they
torched the Monarchs for 66 points after the break.
The 113 points is the third highest total in Robert
Trent Harris, Jr.'s nine+ seasons as head coach, and it's the
first time the team has reached the century mark in a game since
defeating Southern Virginia 102-87 in December of 2006. SU played
115 games since winning that SVU contest.
The sizzling 63.8 percent from the field breaks the previous
mark of .612 set against Mary Washington on December 17, 2005.
Shenandoah needed all 113 points Sunday afternoon as Methodist
got 30 points from Tanner Carnes, 28 from Ross Diachenko and made
14 3-pointers on the day.
The Monarchs led by 10 points midway through the first half and
took a 49-47 lead into the halftime lockerroom.
Fortunately for the Shingleton Gymnasium crowd, SU finished the
first half on a 22-16 run to get back in it and then scored 20 of
the first 28 points of the second half to take a 67-57 lead by the
13:58 mark of the second.
MU would cut the deficit to as little as six points following a
Carnes jumper with 8:08 to play, but the hosts reeled off a 14-5
run over the next 4:55 to take a 96-81 lead with just under three
minutes to play.
Methodist then resorted to fouling in an attempt to get back in
the game, costing itself three starters and four players overall,
but the Hornets made 15 of their last 16 attempts from the foul
line to clinch the victory.
Junior Brandon
Bryan was 10 of 10 from the charity stripe and 8 for 8 in this
stretch. The 10 free throws converted are a new career-best for
Bryan.
Bryan was one of five SU players in double figures - senior Wayne
Washington had a career-high 29, junior Kevin Kline 25, Chris Schrader
11 and Kenny
Robertson 12 with nine assists.
Shenandoah also had a 37-28 advantage on the boards.
The Hornets are back in action Wednesday evening at Christopher
Newport in the first game of the second round of conference play.
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