WINCHESTER, Va. - Visiting N.C. Wesleyan used a hot shooting start to down Shenandoah 77-67 in USA South Conference men's basketball action Saturday afternoon.

The Bishops (12-10, 6-4 USA South) led throughout the contest against Shenandoah (4-19, 2-8).

NCWC scored the game's first 13 points and led 23-2 with eight minutes to play in the first half.

However, the Hornets refused to fold their collective tents.

On the strength of three consecutive 3-pointers from freshman Ross Heyl and another from Avery Green, Shenandoah ended the first half on a 19-2 run.

This spurt, which took just 4:38, made it 39-33 in favor of the Bishops at the half.

NC Wesleyan scored the opening four points of the second and kept its lead between seven and nine points until Matt Carpenter and Green hit consecutive buckets for the Hornets, with Carpenter's coming outside the arc, to cut the deficit to just four points with 12:54 to play.

Faced with its lead totally collapsing, NCWC answered with a Cornelius Snow 3-pointer on the ensuing trip down the floor and the Bishops re-asserted control of the contest.

Snow's 3-ball proved to be an omen - Matt Dougherty performed the same trick six minutes later that blunted a 6-3 Shenandoah run and extended the visitors lead back out to eight points.

This 3-pointer also proved to be the final nail in the Hornets coffin as NCWC led by at least seven points for the remainder of the contest.

Dougherty and Green shared game-high honors with 21 points each while Alex Murray had 15 off the bench for the Bishops.

Heyl backed up Green with 10 points.

Shenandoah is back in action in its home finale on Wednesday night against Christopher Newport. Game time is 7:30.

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