Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. — When Averett senior Marcus LeCounte left the floor late in the second period of his final game at the Grant Center, he had a career-high seven points and three rebounds.

And a standing ovation.

The lone senior had plenty to smile about after his team's whole-shot victory on Saturday at the Grant Center. The Cougars (3-12, 1-10 USA South) took a 2-0 lead after a monstrous Justin Pierce dunk just 29 seconds into the game and  never looked back,  defeating Shenandoah 77-61 for their first USA South win of the season.

The Hornets (3-19, 1-9 USA South) managed to tie the game twice in the first half. With 12:52 remaining in the period, a Kevin Kline lay-up tied the game 15-15, but Pierce sank a 3-pointer seconds later to give Averett an 18-15 lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Shenandoah chipped away at the Averett lead in the second half  and eventually pulled within one after a Mitch Dudley free throw made the score 50-49 with 9:49 remaining. The Cougars came alive after that, putting the game on ice with an 18-0 run in the next six minutes that was capped off by a pair of free throws by #Kenny Hart#.

Pierce led all scorers with 19 points. Marquis Scott added 18 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, which is the fourth highest single game rebounding performance in program history and the most by anyone since Bill McGowan grabbed 20 boards on Feb. 10, 1988 against Virginia Wesleyan.

The Cougars regular season finale will be on Thursday when they travel to N.C. Wesleyan for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.