ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Host Elizabethtown overcame a slow start to down Shenandoah University 66-63 in non-conference men's basketball action Monday evening.

Elizabethtown (4-5) won for the third straight time and for the third time in four lifetime meetings with SU (1-7) by scoring four of the final five points of the contest.

With the game tied at 62-62 following a Jimi Starks free throw for the Hornets, E-Town had a layup and two free throws to close out the victory.

The Blue Jays missed three of their final five free throws, but were able to come out on top by pulling down two offensive rebounds and inducing two SU turnovers with steals.

Shenandoah started the game on a 6-0 run and led 11-3 following a Jared Carithers 3-pointer at the 17:11 mark, but could only watch as Elizabethtown took a 14-13 lead by 13:21 mark on the strength of a 9-2 run.

SU then was able to finish the first on a 9-5 run over the final 5:07 to send the two teams into the halftime break knotted at 34.

There were five lead changes and five ties in the first half.

The two teams remained within three points of each other in the opening 4:02 of the second before E-Town threatened to run away on the strength of a 12-0 run from the 13:36 to 10:39 marks.

Sophomore Aaron Patterson finally snapped this scoreless streak with a jumper at 10:24 that cut the deficit to 11; this jumper kickstarted an 8-0 run in a span of 1:50 that brought the Hornets to within five at 8:34.

Elizabethtown pushed its lead back to 10 points two more times before Shenandoah made its last run, this one 11-1, that tied matters at 62-62 following that Starks free throw.

Carithers led all players with 20 points with Malcolm Clark adding 13 and Xavier Alston 11 with 12 rebounds.

Alston's double-double is the first of the year for the Hornets.

The Blue Jays owned a 44-33 advantage on the glass.

Shenandoah is now off until traveling to New York City December 29 and 30 for games against Lehman and CCNY, respectively.

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