Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. — Averett got the defensive stop it needed late, but the Cougars couldn't get a good look as time expired, allowing Ferrum College to escape with a 61-58 conference victory on Wednesday night at the Grant Center.

The ending was set up by a back-and-forth thriller between the two rival schools. Sophomore Sunil Ram gave Averett a 48-44 lead on a pair of free throws with 7:14 to play, but Ferrum managed to tie the game up less than two minutes later. The Panthers eventually took a 55-53 lead on Brian Clarke's jumper, and Clarke hit another shot moments later to put Ferrum ahead by four with under three minutes to play.

After trading baskets, Averett freshman Bradley Robinson nailed a big 3-pointer from the corner to cut Ferrum's lead to 59-58 with 1:40 remaining. The Panthers answered with J.D. Wallace's layup with just over a minute left, setting up the exciting finish in front of a packed house.

Averett couldn't convert on its ensuing possession, and the Cougars — who still had two fouls to give — fouled twice, giving Ferrum the ball with an eight-second difference between the shot clock and game clock. Ferrum's Marshall Hamilton missed a jumper and the Cougars got the rebound and headed up the floor. However, Ferrum's defense forced the ball back near the sideline inside midcourt, leaving Ram with only enough time for a desperation heave from 30 feet, which fell short.

Ferrum won the back-and-forth battle in the first half to take a 26-21 lead into halftime.

Averett senior Justin Pierce led the team in scoring with 16 points but battled foul trouble for most of the game. After picking up two fouls in the first half, he got his third and fourth fouls in the first five minutes of the second half.

Robinson had 15 points and eight rebounds, while Ram had 11 points. Junior Paul Porter had 11 rebounds and three blocks.

Lamont King led Ferrum with 16 points and nine rebounds.

Averett hosts Christopher Newport University on Saturday at 2 p.m.