Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. — Averett outlasted William Peace University 95-90 in overtime on Friday night to end the regular season on a high note and end a four-game losing skid.

Averett (12-13, 9-5 USA South) overcame a halftime deficit to take the lead midway through the second half. The Cougars tried to hold off William Peace (8-16, 2-11 USA South) in regulation, but the Pacers' Tyquan Nolan drained a jumpshot with 1.4 seconds to play to tie the game at 83-83 and force overtime.

Averett junior Cody Stephens, who finished with a career-high 29 points, drilled consecutive 3-pointers to open the overtime period to give the Cougars a quick boost. William Peace pulled within 91-90 with under a minute to play, but Averett hit four of five free throws in the final 25 seconds to seal the victory.

With the win, Averett clinches a top-four seed in next week's USA South Conference Tournament. Maryville College, which will host the tournament, already clinched the No. 1 seed. Averett could finish as high as second and as low as the third depending on this weekend's results involving Huntingdon College and LaGrange College, which are in contention for the second, third and fourth seeds. While Averett's regular season was completed on Friday, Huntingdon and LaGrange each have two games, including one against each other on Sunday.

Averett, which suffered a heartbreaking defeat to William Peace on Feb. 9, fell behind on the Pacers' home court. Averett didn't take its first lead until sophomore Trevor West's 3-pointer put the Cougars ahead 34-33 with 5:26 left in the first period. William Peace regained the lead and took a 47-41 advantage into halftime.

William Peace led 61-51 with 14:44 left, but Averett answered with a 10-0 run to tie the game three minutes later. The Pacers held Averett off for several minutes until sophomore Devontae Pannell's pair of free throws gave the Cougars a 70-68 lead with 9:22 on the clock. Averett increased its lead to as many as six points before William Peace rallied to hit the tying shot in the final seconds of the half.

In addition to Stephens' career night, sophomore Bradley Robinson added 20 points, sophomore JaColby Hawkins had 14 points and freshman Charles Bryant finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.