BRISTOL, Va. - The Virginia Intermont Men's Basektball Team (7-4) picked up a 73-68 victory in thrilling fashion over Emory & Henry College (2-6) Monday evening at Smith-Canter Gymnasium.
Virginia Intermont jumped out to a 6-0 lead just 96 seconds into the contest. It would be the largest lead the Cobras would get in the game. Emory & Henry stormed back with a 7-0 run at the 16:17 mark. The two teams would battle back and forth for the rest of the half with VIC holding a slim advantage for the majority of the period. The Wasps were able to go into the locker room after a 6-0 run over the last 2:24 of the half for a 29-28 lead.
After the break, E&H continued its run to go up by a 35-28 score on back-to-back three-pointers by freshman guard Damian Edwards (Boone, N.C.). The Wasps would hold their lead thorough the 8:54 mark when the Cobras finished a 12-4 run to go up 49-48.
Virginia Intermont got another six-point lead and was able to hold on down the stretch, fighting off a furious rally by Emory & Henry late in the game.
The Cobras were led offensively by Justin Morris with a game-high 23 points and added a team-high five rebounds. Joshua Hart pitched in 17 points, four rebounds and four steals on the night. Virginia Intermont had 19 steals on 22 turnovers by Emory & Henry and went 26-for-36 (72.2 percent) from the charity stripe.
Emory & Henry was paced by Edwards with 21 points, including six three-pointers made, and eight rebounds. Junior guard Malcolm Green (Marshville, N.C.) had 15 points while sophomore forward Tyler Mullins (Hazard, Ky.) chipped in 12 points. Junior forward Armando Murrell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) registered 11 points of his own and added a game-high nine rebounds.
The Wasps will return home on Wednesday to face off against the Pride of Greensboro College. The contest will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. and will serve as the Emory & Henry Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's annual Facutly-Staff Appreciation Game. All fans are encouraged to wear blue to show their support of E&H.