The Tigers led by 11 at the break as both teams had a hot-shooting first half, with the Royals scoring on 15-of-30 (50%) from the floor and Hampden-Sydney on 19-of-35 (54%). However, it was a different story in the second half as the Tigers ratcheted up their defense and held the Royals to just 18 points on 6-of-39 (15%) shooting from the floor and 2-of-15 (13%) shooting from beyond the arc.
Junior point guard Brian Gunn (Danville, VA/George Washington) led five Tigers in double figures with a game-high 16 points, while senior guard Jeff Monroe (Raleigh, NC/Broughton) added 15. Freshman guard Mike Edwards (Richmond, VA/Steward School) matched his career high with 12 points, while Brandon Randall (Williamsburg, VA/Bruton) and David Willson (Memphis, TN/MUS) added 11 and ten points respectively.
The Tigers out-rebounded the Royals, 50-39, as freshman center Davis Bowne (Hickory, NC/St. Stephen’s) grabbed nine boards to lead all players, while Edwards finished with eight. Bowne and freshman Kevin Forrester (Wytheville, VA/George Wythe) each scored eight points and helped lead the Tiger bench, which out-scored EMU’s, 36-21.
Eastern Mennonite was led by EJ Arrington and Jason Sager, who each scored 11 points as the only Royals in double-figures. Arrington also grabbed a team-best seven boards.
Overall, the Tigers shot 53 percent (36-68) from the floor, 25 percent (4-16) from beyond the arc and 68 percent (19-28) from the line and forced 23 Royals turnovers. Eastern Mennonite finished the game shooting 30 percent (21-69) overall, 20 percent (4-20) from three-point range and 75 percent (9-12) from the line.
Hampden-Sydney returns to action Monday, February 2, as the team travels to Bridgewater, VA, to take on Bridgewater College at 7 pm. The contest will be broadcast live on FM 95.7 WFLO and on the internet at www.hsc.edu/athletics.
-www.hsc.edu/athletics-