FIFTH-RANKED TIGERS FALL AT EMORY & HENRY, 81-78
(collegiate basketball)
EMORY, VA—Hampden-Sydney’s rally from a ten-point deficit with just under two minutes to play fell short Saturday as the fifth-ranked Tigers lost to Old Dominion Athletic Conference-foe Emory and Henry, 81-78. The loss drops the Tigers to 14-2 overall and 7-2 in the ODAC as the Wasps improve to 9-7 overall and 5-5 in the ODAC with their third victory against a top-20 team this season.
Hampden-Sydney had a ten point advantage in both halves Saturday, but the Wasps would not go down as they turned the tables on the Tigers by going up ten, 76-66, with under two minutes to play. Hampden-Sydney rallied with consecutive three’s by Brandon Randall (Williamsburg, VA/Bruton) and Mike Edwards (Richmond, VA/Steward School), while a pair of layups by Brian Gunn (Danville, VA/George Washington) offset a made free throw by Wasp guard Ben Fisher as the Tigers cut the Wasp advantage to one, 77-76, with a minute left to play in the game.
However, over that final minute, H-SC came no closer as E&H’s Justin Call knocked down a pair of free throws, while freshman Korey Townsend scored a layup with under 20 seconds to play to seal the Tigers fate.
Four players scored in double-figures for the Tigers, who played without senior center Mike Thompson, who was out with an injury. David Willson (Memphis, TN/MUS) led the team with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Randall finished with 14 of his own. Gunn and senior Jason Holman (Amelia, VA/Amelia Co.) each finished with 13, while All-American guard Jeff Monroe (Raleigh, NC/Broughton) added nine.
Tiger freshman center Davis Bowne (Hickory, NC/St. Stephen’s) finished with a career-best six points and six boards as Hampden-Sydney out-rebounded the Wasps, 41-34. Hampden-Sydney shot 49 percent (32-65) from the floor, 30 percent (3-10) from three-point range and 58 percent (11-19) from the line.
Brandon Stanley paced the Wasps with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, while Justin Call finished with 17. Korey Townsend added 14 and seven boards, while Ben Fisher finished with 12 points and eight assists. The Wasps shot 47 percent (32-68) from the floor, the highest shooting percentage yielded by the Tigers this season, while they also knocked down 29 percent (5-17) from beyond the arc and 71 percent (12-17) from the line.
Hampden-Sydney returns to action Wednesday, January 28, as the team hosts Lynchburg College at 7 pm in Fleet Gymnasium. The game will be broadcast live on FM 95.7 WFLO and on the internet at www.hsc.edu/athletics.
-www.hsc.edu/athletics-