LYNCHBURG, Va. — Senior Cody Stephens' 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining gave the Averett University men's basketball team a thrilling 69-66 victory over Randolph College on Sunday afternoon.
 
Averett (5-2) held a three-point advantage after junior Bradley Robinson converted both of his attempts from the free throw line. However, the Wildcats were able to get the ball back down the court and Corey Brown drained a 3-pointer with 8.6 seconds left to tie the game at 66-66.
 
In electrifying fashion, Averett junior Trevor West got the ball down to Stephens, who didn't flinch, hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.
 
Zach Desgain had a chance to tie it at the buzzer for Randolph (5-3), but his attempt fell short, giving Averett the non-conference road win.
 
Despite the close finish, the Cougars' led by as many as 13 points the second half. West hit a pair of 3-pointers to give Averett a 55-45 advantage with 8:09 left. However, the Wildcats went on a 16-8 run over the course of the next eight minutes to cut the Cougars' lead down to 63-61.
 
Randolph trimmed Averett's lead down to one when Desgain hit a layup with 19 seconds on the clock, leading to the thrilling finish.
 
West led the Cougars in scoring, finishing with 17 points, while Stephens finished with 15 off the bench. Junior Carter Jones added 13 to continue his streak of double-digit scoring in each of Averett's first seven games.
 
The Cougars performed well on the glass, outrebounding the Wildcats 49-32, including grabbing 33 defensive rebounds. Jones and sophomore Charles Bryant led Averett with nine rebounds apiece.  Junior Davis Absher recorded six, along with Robinson and West finishing with six. Seven Cougars had at least five or more rebounds.
 
Averett used an early run in the first half to take an 8-2 advantage thanks to Jones' four points and three rebounds. The Cougars' extended their lead to 12 when senior Darnell Collins took a Stephens pass and converted his layup, giving Averett a 27-15 advantage at the 5:13 mark.
 
The Cougars shot 42.9 percent from the field in the first half to take a 33-26 advantage going into the break. Stephens finished the half with seven points and Robinson and Jones each scored six.
 
Desgain led the Wildcats with 20 points.
 
Averett returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Bridgewater, Virginia, to take on Bridgewater College at 6 p.m.