Box Score


LYNCHBURG, Va. — Averett came from behind in the second half to force overtime, but Lynchburg College held off the Cougars with a last-second shot to steal the victory on Saturday afternoon. Lynchburg's Steven Echols' jumper in the final seconds of overtime gave the Hornets a 71-69 win over Averett.

Averett (3-8), which trailed by 10 at halftime, tied the game at 62-62 in the final minutes of regulation. In overtime, the Cougars led by as many as two points on two occasions. With the score knotted 67-67, senior Brandon Malone hit a layup to give Averett the lead, but Lynchburg (5-6) responded with a game-tying layup just seconds later. An Averett turnover gave Lynchburg the ball with under three seconds to play. Brandan Connor found Echols for the game-winner as time expired.

Echols led all scorers with 21 points.

Lynchburg pulled away to a 13-point lead late in the first half, but the Cougarscut that deficit to 39-29 by halftime. Averett continued to chip away at the Hornets' lead in the second half before taking a 49-47 lead on sophomore Victor Cortes' 3-pointer with 11:41 remaining.

The Hornets regained the advantage until Averett sophomore Kenny Hart put the Cougars back in front with a free throw with 2:42 left in the second period. K.C. Mendez followed with a pair of Lynchburg free throws, but Malone tied the game with one of two free throws with two minutes to play in regulation. Both teams remained scoreless the rest of the period, forcing overtime.

Malone led Averett with 18 points, while Hart and freshman Michael St. John each finished with 11 points. Cortes added 10 points.

Averett returns to action on Wednesday in a home contest against Ferrum College scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the Grant Center.