CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Averett University men's basketball team increased its winning streak to three games with a 91-73 non-conference victory over Johnson & Wales University on Wednesday night at the Wildcat Center.
 
Ahead 48-35 at the break, Averett (5-1) came storming out of the gate in the second half to open up the contest. The Cougars used a 21-14 run to take a 69-49 advantage thanks to freshman Austin DeLucia's 3-pointer with 12:28 remaining. Johnson & Wales (4-3) didn't have an answer for Averett and didn't to get within 16 the rest of the way. The Cougars matched their biggest lead of the night on freshman Cameron May's layup that made it 87-63 with 4:08 left.
 
For the third consecutive game, Averett had four players score in double digits. Junior Charles Bryant led the way with 16 points and recorded six rebounds, while senior Bradley Robinson chipped in with 11 points and four rebounds. Senior Carter Jones added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, giving him 517 for his career to move him past Jonathan Rumley for seventh place on the program's all-time rebounding list. Senior Trevor West scored 10 and pulled down five rebounds for the Cougars, who produced a season-high 91 points.
 
DeLucia broke a 13-13 tie early in the first half with a long 3-pointer to give the Cougars the lead for good. Averett fired off a 17-3 run that helped it establish a 48-35 lead at the break. The Cougars hit their first eight shots from the floor, including four 3-pointers, to help them take control. Averett didn't miss its first shot until eight minutes into the game. Overall, the Cougars shot 55.4 percent from the field and went 11 for 24 beyond the arc. The Cougars dominated the Wildcats under the boards, outrebounding Johnson & Wales 40-24.
 
Averett returns to the court on Dec. 11 when it travels to Bridgewater, Virginia, to take on Bridgewater College in the first game of the Bridgewater/Don Glick Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.