EMORY, Va. – The Averett University Men's Basketball Team (2-5) picked up a 92-83 victory over Emory & Henry College (2-7) Wednesday evening at Bob Johnson Court and the John Rutledge King Center. The Cougars placed five players in double figures during the contest.
AU got out to an 8-0 lead but E&H responded with 10 straight points for a 10-8 advantage at the 14:19 mark of the first half. Neither team led by more than five points the rest of the way in the opening 20 minutes as the period featured eight ties and 10 lead changes. Averett would lead the game 40-39 at the break.
The two squads traded buckets in the first minute and a half for a 45-43 Cougar lead. Emory & Henry went on a 10-2 run, gaining a six-point (53-47) advantage with 14:20 on the clock. Later in the half, Averett reeled off a 15-2 run to regain the lead but Emory & Henry responded with seven straight to tie things up at 62. A pair of 6-0 runs by the Cougars gave them momentum down the stretch as they were able to fight of a late surge by the Wasps and hold on for the 92-83 win.
Averett placed five players in double figures in the game led by Carter Jones, Bradley Robinson and JaColby Hawkins with 17 points each. Jones added 10 rebounds to complete the double-double. Trevor West had 13 points, four rebounds and five assists off the bench while Charles Bryant added 10 points and six rebounds. The Cougars shot 44.2 percent (34-for-77) for the game and held a 46-28 advantage on points in the paint.
Senior guard Malcolm Green (Marshville, N.C.) led the Wasps with 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Senior forward Tyler Mullins (Hazard, Ky.) added 13 points and six rebounds while senior forward Charles Smith (Fayetteville, N.C.) had 12 points and six boards. Senior guard Brett Pearman (Chesapeake, Va.) dished out 10 assists and added nine points while junior forward Chavis Hamilton (Marion, N.C.) added a game-high 12 rebounds and had four blocks and three assists. As a team, E&H went 28-for-70 (40%) from the field and hit 12 three-pointers.
Emory & Henry will take time off for the Holidays and will return to the court on Monday, December 30 when it travels to Montreat, N.C. for a 7:00 p.m., contest with the Cavaliers.
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