DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University men's basketball team dominated the second half on its way to an impressive 70-43 victory over Emory & Henry College on Friday night in its home opener as the nightcap of the Cougar Classic.
 
The Cougars (1-1) were 7 for 10 from the 3-point line in the second half and shot 51.9 percent from the field overall for the game. Averett controlled the defensive pace in the second half as well, holding Emory & Henry (0-3) scoreless until the 16:55 mark. The Cougars went on an 11-0 run in the first three minutes of the second half, extending their seven-point halftime lead to 38-22.
 
Averett started the game on a 6-0 run off layups from sophomore Charles Bryant and juniors Carter Jones and Trevor West. The Wasps' Ryan Gravely was able to cut the lead in half when he drained a 3-pointer at the 17:13 mark. Emory & Henry stormed back to take a 7-6 lead with 15 minutes left to play in the half when Noah Walker drove into the paint and hit his jump shot. However, junior Bradley Robinson nailed his first of four 3-pointers to give the Cougars a 9-7 advantage with 14 minutes left to play. Senior forward Cody Stephens converted his 3-point shot 10 seconds later and Hawkins buried another shot from long range, giving Averett a 15-7 advantage.
 
The Cougars took their biggest lead of the half when Jones made a layup 11 minutes later, putting Averett ahead 27-15 with just under five minutes left in the first half. The Wasps battled back, scoring the final five points of the period, cutting the Cougars' lead to 27-22 going into the break.
 
Averett pulled ahead by 30 late in the game when junior Devontae Pannell hit his jumper with just under a minute left, giving the Cougars a 70-40 advantage.
 
Averett dominated Emory & Henry in the paint, outscoring the Wasps 30-16. The Cougars also recorded 20 points off Wasps turnovers. Averett also got 26 points off the bench.
 
Robinson led the Cougars with 18 points, finishing 4-of-7 outside the arc and added seven rebounds. Jones finished with 10 total points and recorded three assists along with six rebounds. Bryant finished with four steals and nine points, Pannell finished with eight points and four assists and junior JaColby Hawkins led Averett with five assists.

The win marked the first victory for first-year head coach David Doino. He is the third consecutive Averett men's basketball coach to win his home debut.
 
Averett returns to action Saturday when it takes on Columbia International University in the afternoon game of the Cougar Classic at 3 p.m., followed by a 5 p.m. game between Emory & Henry and William Peace University.