For immediate release - 1/3/2009 - #148
Averett Pulls Away in the Second Half to Defeat the LC Men's Basketball Team
DANVILLE, VA- The Averett University Cougars pulled away from the Lynchburg College Hornets men's basketball team in the second half to secure a 78-63 win in the concluding game of the Averett University Classic.
The Cougars (7-5) entered the half with a 36-32 lead after being down most of the first half, but Averett torched the nets from three point range in the second half to secure the victory. AU outscored the Hornets 42-31 in the second stanza and led by as many as 18 points.
Steven Echols (Martinsville, VA/Carlisle) paced Lynchburg with 26 points on 9-16 shooting overall and 6-10 from three point range en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team. Echols added six rebounds, three assists, two steals, but turned the ball over eight times. Jonathan Rumley had an all-around game for Averett, scoring 16 points along with eight assists, five rebounds, four steals, and two blocks. Ryan Frazier finished with 14 points on four of five shooting from deep and Damien Brown contributed with 10 points and five boards.
The Hornets had another good game from the field, connecting on 47% (24-51) of its field goal attempts and 53% (9-17) of its tries from downtown. Averett had an equally strong shooting performance, converting 28 of 56 shots and 11 of 27 (41%) from deep. The Cougars made 11 of 18 tries from the charity stripe while LC struggled, making just six of 13. Lynchburg recorded 15 assists and 22 turnovers while AU had 19 assists and turnovers each. Averett maintained a slim advantage in rebounding, outrebounding Lynchburg 33-31.
Lynchburg (3-9) travels to Guilford College for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference contest on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
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