Box Score


GREENSBORO, N.C. — Averett senior Ryan Frazier's basket with 1:29 to play broke a tie and the Cougars held on for a 55-52 victory over the Greensboro Pride on Saturday.

In an intense game in which neither team was separated by more than five points, Averett (8-7, 1-1 US South) took a 52-49 lead on a Jeff Wehling 3-pointer with 2:30 to play. Greensboro's Anthony Simmons knotted the score again with a 3 at the other end. 

Jonathan Rumley pulled down the rebound on a missed 3-pointer on Averett's next possession, and the senior guard found Frazier for a layup with less than a minute and a half to play.

Greensboro (6-8, 0-2 USA South) turned the ball over in its next two possessions, but the Cougars couldn't convert. Following a Greensboro timeout with 19 seconds to play, the Pride missed a wide-open layup, which senior Justin Parker coraled. He was immediately fouled with 9.8 seconds left.

Parker missed both free throws, but Rumley grabbed the loose ball and was fouled with 7.5 seconds left on the clock. Rumley made one of two, and the Pride missed a desperation shot at the other end as the Cougars escaped for their first win at Hanes Gymnasium since 2005.

Senior Damien Brown scored 10 points to lead the Cougars, who ended a two-game losing streak. Rumley added seven points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Simmons led the Pride with 18 points.

Averett led by as many as three in the first half, but Greensboro took a 29-26 lead into halftime. The Pride led by five points on two occasions early in the second half until the Cougars took a 34-33 lead on a Mike Ferrell layup with 14:12 to go.

Averett returns to action at home on Wednesday against Methodist at approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's game.