LYNCHBURG, Va. – First-year Joshua Stephen capped off a career night by hitting a buzzer-beating 15-footer Saturday afternoon to give the Shenandoah University men's basketball team an 87-86 ODAC victory over the University of Lynchburg.
 
Stephen, who finished with a career-high 27 points, hit the step-back jumper as time expired to silence the Turner Gymnasium crowd.
 
IN BRIEF
The win gives Shenandoah (6-13, 3-7 ODAC) a three-game winning streak for the first time since taking three straight from Nov. 26 through Dec. 1, 2019.
 
Lynchburg (5-15, 2-9) had taken an 86-85 on a pair of Piercen Young free throws with 11 seconds remaining.
 
SU quickly inbounded following Young's second free throw and called timeout after crossing midcourt. Now with five seconds left, the ball was inbounded to Stephen at the top of the key, where he began to dribble left and drive.
 
After successfully eluding his defender, Stephen calmly stroked the game-winning shot.
 
His bucket completed a contest in which the two teams traded the lead seven times and were tied on seven additional occasions. Four of those lead changes and two of the ties occurred in the final 4:15.
 
Both teams held four-point advantages in the waning moments – SU was up 78-74 following a pair of Binwi Bihai free throws at 4:51 and Lynchburg took an 84-80 lead at 2:41.
 
Senior Davion Roberts pulled his squad out of that four-point hole with a jumper at 2:28 followed by a 3-pointer at 1:22.
 
That '3', one of six for Coach Nick Doyle's club, set up the stage for Young's free throws and Stephen's game-winner in the final 11 seconds.
 
In addition to Stephen's 27, Bihai had 21, Malik Jordan 17 and Roberts 15.
 
Shenandoah shot 53 percent (32 of 60) to 51 percent for Lynchburg (30 of 59) with the hosts holding a 37-32 edge on the glass.
 
UP NEXT
SU continues this road trip with a Wednesday ODAC game at defending national champion Randolph-Macon. Opening tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
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