Box Score


DANVILLE, Va. — Brandon Malone turned and screamed with excitement after his 3-pointer with 1:36 remaining all but sealed Averett's 70-55 victory over Hampden-Sydney College on Thursday night at the Grant Center.

The senior guard, who finished with 13 points off the bench, was one of four Cougars who scored in double digits as Averett (2-6) won its first home game of the season. Senior Chad Hardway and sophomore Ruben Pierce also finished with 13 points, while sophomore Kenny Hart added 11 points for Averett. Hardway also pulled in 13 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double.

Averett, which led by only one at halftime, started the second half slowly. However, the Cougars never trailed. Hampden-Sydney (4-4) tied the game at 36-36 with 13:32 to play, but Averett answered with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes.

Malone's other 3-pointer, which came at the 6:37 mark, gave the Cougars a 10-point lead — 53-43 — that never dipped back into single digits the rest of the way.

Hampden-Sydney opened the game with a 6-2 lead in the first five minutes. Averett fired back to take an 11-6 advantage with 3-pointers from senior Jeff Wehling and Hart, which sandwiched a 3-point play by senior Mike Miller. The Cougars held the lead until Hampden-Sydney's Randall Ward nailed a 3-pointer to put the Tigers in front 23-20. The Tigers maintained the lead until Wehling drained a 3-pointer just before the half to put Averett ahead 32-31 as the teams entered the locker rooms.

Hampden-Sydney outshot Averett percentage wise, but the Tigers had nine more turnovers than the Cougars.

Harrison George led the Tigers with 16 points and eight rebounds and Turner King chipped in 13 points.

Averett's game scheduled for Saturday against Eastern Mennonite University has been postponed.