WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's basketball team earned its first win of the 2014-15 season with a 69-61 victory over Mary Washington Friday night in the second game of the 2014 South Region Challenge.

The Hornets (1-2) won for the first time this season by erasing a seven-point second half deficit to Mary Washington (0-3).

Shenandoah led 29-27 at the break only to see UMW score 15 of the initial 21 points of the second half to take a 42-35 lead with 11:11 to play.

The two teams traded layups on the next two possessions before SU began its comeback with a Jared Carithers 3-pointer at the 10:01 mark.

Carithers, who finished with a game-high 23 points, hit a jumper 91 seconds later to cut the deficit to two before draining another 3-pointer at 7:10 to bring his club to within one at 46-45.

Jimi Starks then had steal on the next UMW possession, feeding Malcolm Clark for the go-ahead layup and Shenandoah had the lead for good.

A Starks jumper followed by an Eli McEathron 3-pointer made it 52-46 and the Hornets were able to coast home to the victory.

Shenandoah made 5 of 9 attempts from the line, including 3 of its final 4, to clinch the victory.

In addition to Carithers' 23, Clark added 21 with Starks chipping in eight points and eight rebounds.

The Hornets shot 41 percent for the game and outrebounded Mary Washington 43-40. SU also had a 20-11 advantage in points scored in the paint.

Shenandoah completes Challenge play tomorrow at 4:00 by taking on former USA South Conference foe N.C. Wesleyan.

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