WINCHESTER, Va. – The Shenandoah University men's basketball team completed a 49-year run in Shingleton Gymnasium Wednesday evening with a 68-65 ODAC loss to Bridgewater College.

Shenandoah (6-10, 3-6 ODAC) started strong, getting an Aaron Patterson alley-oop dunk as the opening points of the game and racing out to a 14-1 lead over the Eagles (11-7, 5-4).

The Hornets expanded that lead out to 19, 34-15, with 4:39 remaining in the first before Bridgewater began its long climb back.

BC scored 17 of the final 27 points of the first to cut its deficit to 12, 44-32, and continued its fight as the second half dawned.

After the two teams split the initial 16 points of the second, Bridgewater completed its comeback with a 17-5 run over 7:13 to tie the game at 57-57 with 8:45 left.

From this point on, the two teams were separated by no more than four points.

Shenandoah held its final lead at the 2:18 mark as Christopher Chaney had a stickback to give the hosts a 62-61 lead.

Bridgewater hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing trip down the floor to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Shenandoah had a pair of attempts at a game-tying '3', but missed both with BC getting the game-clinching defensive rebound with four seconds remaining.

Patterson led the hosts with 17 points with Jonah Meredith adding 13.

Derrick Perry had 13 rebounds and Christopher Chaney 10 for SU. The two teams split 94 boards.

Shenandoah takes to the road Saturday for a 2:00 ODAC game at Hampden-Sydney. Next Wednesday, January 31, the Hornets open the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center with a 5 p.m. contest versus Randolph-Macon.

###