BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Host Bridgewater College built a big first half lead on its way to a 73-64 men's basketball victory over Shenandoah Wednesday evening in the ODAC opener for both schools.

The Eagles (2-2, 1-0 ODAC) built a 36-22 halftime lead only to see SU (1-5, 0-1) claw back into it with a strong second half start.

The Hornets scored the initial six points of the second and 17 of the first 26 to cut the deficit to six, 45-39, with 11:15 left.

Coach Rob Pryor's club had been as close as four points before BC answered the Shenandoah run.

Trailing by just four, 41-37, following a Jared Carithers jumper, the Hornets saw their hosts score eight of the game's next 10 points to take a 49-39 lead with 9:33 remaining.

Shenandoah was able to answer with a 7-0 run of its own to cut the deficit to three, 49-46, with 7:14 left.

Bridgewater then effectively sealed the contest with a 13-2 spurt to push its advantage to 12 points with 3:43 remaining.

SU would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Shenandoah, which shot just 27 percent (8 of 30) in the first half, ended up shooting 39 percent after a 17 of 35 (49 percent) performance in the second half.

Carithers, the leading scorer in the ODAC, paced the visitors with a game-high 25 points.

Xavier Alston had a team-high 11 rebounds for SU.

The Eagles had a slight, 46-42, advantage on the glass with Ed Reddick's 16 leading the way.

Reddick had 14 defensive rebounds to match the Hornets offensive rebound total.

The men host Randolph on Saturday in a 2 p.m. ODAC contest.

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