Shenandoah (5-2) held just a 34-33 lead at the half as Southern Virginia (6-7) made up a seven-point deficit with six points in the waning moments of the first, but the Hornets erupted for a season-high 50 second half points to cruise to the easy win.
Seniors Chris Rhone (Washington, D.C./Northwestern) and Kenny Purnell (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton) did most of the damage; Rhone poured in 18 of his 24 points after the break while 17 of Purnell’s game high 27 came in the second.
Up 40-37 at the 17:11 mark, Shenandoah put its hosts away with a 7-0 run over the next 1:37 to open up its first double digit lead of the game. After taking that 47-37 lead on a three-point play by Purnell, the Knights never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
Southern Virginia attempted one more rally as they nailed five three-pointers in the second, four by Cedric Worley in the final 10 minutes, but SU answered with a 9-2 run over the last 3:47 to provide the final margin.
The Hornets shot 28 for 57 (49.1 percent) for the game and were a sizzling 18 for 30 (60.0 percent) in the second. Sophomore Onyie Onunaku (Bristow, Va./Stonewall Jackson) helped his club to a 42-27 advantage on the glass with a game high 12 – he just missed his fourth double-double of the season with nine points.
Senior Chris Jenkins (Bristow, Va./Brentsville) dished out a career high eight assists to go along with eight points.
http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200405/121104.htm > Box Score/Play by Play
Shenandoah is off until next Saturday when the University of Mary Washington pays a visit to Winchester for a 3:00 tip.
Shenandoah Hornets vs Southern Virginia Knights 12/11/04 2:00 at Knights Sports Arena - Buena Vista, Va. At Knights Sports Arena - Buena Vista, Va. SHENANDOAH HORNETS 84, SOUTHERN VIRGINIA KNIGHTS 68 SHENANDOAH HORNETS (5-2) PURNELL, Kenneth 10-15 4-4 27; RHONE, Chris 8-12 6-7 24; ONUNAKU, Onyie 2-5 5-8 9; JENKINS, Chris 2-8 2-2 8; LAWRENCE, Jeremiah 2-3 1-2 5; HALE, Jared 1-7 1-2 4; SULLIVAN, Mike 2-2 0-1 4; JOHNS, Steven 1-4 1-2 3; MILLER, Patrick 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-57 20-28 84. SOUTHERN VIRGINIA KNIGHTS (6-7) BECKSTEAD, Bailey 8-14 3-3 20; WORLEY, Cedric 6-10 0-0 16; SCHROEDER, Brett 2-6 2-2 7; TARWATER, David 2-10 2-2 7; JOHNSTON, Ty 2-3 2-2 7; NEVA, Gary 2-2 0-0 5; EVANS, Cory 1-6 3-4 5; FAUMUNINA-Eze, Uch 0-0 1-2 1; SARGENT, Tim 0-0 0-0 0; BROWN, Tyson 0-0 0-0 0; OTIS, Nate 0-5 0-1 0; MANN, Nathaniel 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-56 13-16 68. Shenandoah Hornets............ 34 50 - 84 Southern Virginia Knights..... 33 35 - 68 3-point goals-Shenandoah Hornets 8-19 (PURNELL, Kenneth 3-5; JENKINS, Chris 2-5; RHONE, Chris 2-3; HALE, Jared 1-5; JOHNS, Steven 0-1), Southern Virginia Knights 9-23 (WORLEY, Cedric 4-7; NEVA, Gary 1-1; BECKSTEAD, Bailey 1-2; TARWATER, David 1-5; SCHROEDER, Brett 1-3; JOHNSTON, Ty 1-1; OTIS, Nate 0-2; EVANS, Cory 0-2). Fouled out--Shenandoah Hornets-MILLER, Patrick, Southern Virginia Knights-BECKSTEAD, Bailey. Rebounds-Shenandoah Hornets 42 (ONUNAKU, Onyie 12), Southern Virginia Knights 27 (EVANS, Cory 5; JOHNSTON, Ty 5). Assists-Shenandoah Hornets 17 (JENKINS, Chris 8), Southern Virginia Knights 16 (TARWATER, David 5). Total fouls-Shenandoah Hornets 21, Southern Virginia Knights 21. A-104