Box Score


FERRUM, Va. — Averett held off several Ferrum rallies, including one in the final minutes, to beat the Panthers 88-82 on Wednesday night.

The Cougars (12-8, 5-2 USA South) led by as many as 17 midway through the second half, but that advantage withered away to single digits with under seven minutes to play. Ferrum (10-10, 3-4 USA South) closed the gap to 76-73 on a Derek Mitchell jumper with 2:55 remaining. The Panthers had a chance to tie on their next possession, but a Daryl Hart 3-pointer was too long.

Averett pushed its lead back out to nine with 35 seconds to play, but it wasn't over just yet. Keith Crump drained a 3-pointer as he was fouled with 11.4 seconds left, and Crump hit the ensuing free throw to trim the Averett lead to only four. But Cougars senior Justin Parker hit a pair of free throws to help wrap the game up.

It was the last of several Ferrum comeback attempts that fell short throughout the game.

The Cougars led 25-21 halfway through the first half until Ferrum made a run to pull within one after Crump's layup that cut Averett's lead to 30-29. The Cougars held court, and they took a 42-34 lead into the locker room.

The Panthers rallied again at the start of the second half, cutting the score to 45-41 in the opening minutes, but the Cougars extended their lead once again.

Senior Jonathan Rumley helped nullify several of those runs with 24 points and 10 rebounds, leaving him 15 shy of 1,000 career points. Senior Ryan Frazier rebounded from a slow start to score 18, and freshman Kenny Hart added 13 points. Junior Mike Miller, who started in place of Damien Brown, finished with nine points. Brown is out indefinitely with a hand injury.

Crump led Ferrum with 14 points, while Marcus Mayo scored 13. Justin Henderson added 12 points, Christian Walters scored 11 and Mitchell finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds.

Averett returns to action on Saturday at home against Greensboro College at 4 p.m.