Shenandoah (8-7 overall, 4-2 USA South) gave up considerable height to visiting Greensboro (6-9, 4-1), but hung tough to get its third straight victory.
The loss for the Pride was their first in the last five games. GC had bolted out to a two-game lead in the league by winning in its first four USA South Conference contests.
Shenandoah's win, combined with Methodist's win over Christopher Newport Saturday afternoon, leaves Greensboro tied with Methodist for the league lead. SU and CNU are one game back at 4-2.
Even though Greensboro and its six players at 6'7" or better won the rebounding battle 40-34, the Hornets came out on top by hitting on 23 of their 57 shots (40.4 percent). The hosts also held GC to 34.6 percent shooting (18 of 52), including just 8 of 28 (28.6 percent) in the first half. SU led after one 32-24, and led for all but 39 seconds in the second half.
Greensboro took its second and finale lead of the second half at the 9:22 mark when Gerry Wood stuck back a Devarra Purefoy miss in the paint. SU senior Chad Brashears answered right back with a three-pointer, and the Hornets pulled away from there.
Shenandoah got the lead into double digits with 2:30 to play on the strength of a 11-2 run that started with Brashears' trey. They kept the lead at least 10 points until Morgan scored the final three-points of the game for the Pride on a three-pointer with 24 seconds remaining.
Junior Chris Rhone had a game high 21 while Kenneth Purnell added 19. Trey Williams and Morgan had 12 and Dshamal Schoetz 11 for GC.
A complete box score and play by play can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/mb/200304/013104.htm
Shenandoah hosts Methodist Sunday in a 4:00 USA South Conference contest.
Newspaper Box Score Greensboro Pride vs Shenandoah Hornets 1/31/04 4:00 at Shingleton Gymnasium - Winchester, Va. At Shingleton Gymnasium - Winchester, Va. SHENANDOAH HORNETS 69, GREENSBORO PRIDE 59 GREENSBORO PRIDE (6-9, 4-1) WILLIAMS, Trey 3-7 5-6 12; MORGAN, Marcellus 3-8 4-6 12; SCHOETZ, Dshamal 3-7 5-7 11; WOOD, Gerry 4-10 0-0 9; BATTLE, Justin 2-5 0-0 4; PARRISH, Justin 1-3 2-3 4; WILLIAMS, Jason 1-3 0-0 3; MONTRELL, Edward 1-4 1-2 3; PUREFOY, Devarra 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 18-52 18-26 59. SHENANDOAH HORNETS (8-7, 4-2) RHONE, Chris 5-10 9-9 21; PURNELL, Kenneth 6-16 5-5 19; BRASHEARS, Chad 3-7 0-1 9; ONUNAKU, Onyie 3-6 1-2 7; MYERS, Lenny 2-6 0-0 4; CAMP, Halston 2-3 0-1 4; JENKINS, Chris 1-3 0-0 3; BRODIE, James 1-4 0-0 2; YAMOAH, Stephen 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-57 15-18 69. Greensboro Pride.............. 24 35 - 59 Shenandoah Hornets............ 32 37 - 69 3-point goals-Greensboro Pride 5-18 (MORGAN, Marcellus 2-4; WILLIAMS, Jason 1-3; WOOD, Gerry 1-4; WILLIAMS, Trey 1-4; PUREFOY, Devarra 0-3), Shenandoah Hornets 8-19 (BRASHEARS, Chad 3-7; PURNELL, Kenneth 2-7; RHONE, Chris 2-2; JENKINS, Chris 1-1; ONUNAKU, Onyie 0-2). Fouled out--Greensboro Pride-None, Shenandoah Hornets-BRODIE, James. Rebounds-Greensboro Pride 40 (SCHOETZ, Dshamal 9), Shenandoah Hornets 34 (ONUNAKU, Onyie 7; RHONE, Chris 7). Assists-Greensboro Pride 10 (WILLIAMS, Jason 2; MORGAN, Marcellus 2; WILLIAMS, Trey 2), Shenandoah Hornets 13 (RHONE, Chris 3; PURNELL, Kenneth 3). Total fouls-Greensboro Pride 21, Shenandoah Hornets 24. A-704