Box Score
Box Score


WINCHESTER, Va. — Averett junior Marquis Scott scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the Cougars rallied in the second half to demolish Shenandoah University 87-64 on Saturday evening at Shingleton Gymnasium.

Scott's 13 offensive rebounds tied teammate Paul Porter's single-game record set against Shenandoah in Danville on Jan. 4. Scott's 38 points bested his previous career-best of 25 and tied for the second most points in a single game in program history. Keith Claiborne also had 38 points in 1994 and Demarcus Morrison holds the record with 41 points in 1999 — both coincidentally against Shenandoah.

Other than nine turnovers, Averett (7-12, 2-5 USA South) played well in the first half but trailed 35-32 at halftime. Shenandoah (4-16, 2-5 USA South) increased that lead to seven in the opening minutes of the second half before Averett fought back. Freshman Sunil Ram hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Averett a 52-48 lead with 12:13 remaining and that helped jumpstart the Cougars' offense.

Scott scored 30 of his 38 points in the second half as Averett pulled away to a 23-point victory to avenge its heartbreaking double-overtime loss to the Hornets in Danville earlier this month.

Ram and sophomore Jeremy Ruffin finished with 14 points. Junior Grant Chandler added nine points and Porter had eight points and nine rebounds for Averett.

The Cougars outscored Shenandoah 27-7 on second-chance points.

Ross Heyl finished with a team-high 19 points for Shenandoah, which also got 16 points from Avery Green.

Averett travels to Methodist University on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.