ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The Averett University men's basketball team defeated N.C. Wesleyan College 83-69 on Sunday afternoon, lifting the Cougars to their eighth win in nine games while giving first-year head coach David Doino a victory against his former team.
 
Trailing 52-50 with 11:51 left in the second half, junior Devontae Pannell sunk a 3-pointer to give Averett (13-6, 7-2 USA South) a one-point lead. Pannell's jump shot started an 11-3 run for the Cougars that helped them establish a 64-55 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining. However, the Cougars had to withstand an 8-4 run by N.C. Wesleyan (10-9, 4-4 USA South) that cut Averett's advantage down to 66-63 at the 4:55 mark. Yet, that's as close as the Battling Bishops would get though as the Cougars answered with a 15-3 run to help put the game out of reach.
 
The Cougars trailed 22-14 with 12:18 left in the first period, but two 3-pointers by Pannell and junior Bradley Robinson cut the deficit to 24-20 with just over 10 minutes before the half. Averett stayed within striking distance before tying the game twice and eventually taking the lead just before the half. Senior Cody Stephens' free throws with 2:40 left in the period gave the Cougars their first lead since the opening minutes of the game and were the start of a 7-2 run to end the half and give Averett a 40-35 advantage at the break.
 
Despite trailing by several possessions at the break, N.C. Wesleyan fought back to tie the game several times before going ahead by two twice before Averett regained the lead for good on Pannell's 3-pointer.
 
The Cougars made 50.9 percent of their attempts from the field, the fifth time this season that they shot better than 50 percent.
 
Sophomore Charles Bryant led Averett with 16 points, nine rebounds and a career-best three blocks. Junior Carter Jones recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points while matching his career-high of 12 rebounds. Junior Trevor West added 13 points and five assists, while Stephens added 11 points. Robinson and James Contreras Jr. each added nine points, with Contreras dishing out a career-high five assists.
 
D.J. Weaver led the Battling Bishops with 15 points.
 
For Doino, it was his first matchup against N.C. Wesleyan, where he was an assistant coach under head coach John Thompson for seven years before coming to Averett prior to this season.
 
Averett suits up again on Wednesday when it hosts Ferrum College at 5:30 p.m. in conference action.