DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University men's basketball team defeated Ferrum College 76-69 on Wednesday night at the Grant Center, picking up their fourth straight conference victory to stay atop the USA South standings.
 
Trailing 54-51 with 11:01 left in the game, Averett (14-6, 8-2 USA South) tied the score at 54-54 when junior Devontae Pannell buried a 3 at the 10:27 mark. A Ferrum foul away from the ball following the shot kept the ball with the Cougars, setting up junior Carter Jones' jumper, which gave Averett a 56-54 lead. The Cougars never relinquished the lead from that point on and fended off Ferrum (7-13, 2-7 USA South) late to earn a sweep of the regular season series.
 
Ferrum opened up the game with effective shooting from the field to establish a 26-14 advantage with just less than nine minutes left in the first period. However, the Cougars used a 16-3 run over the course of the next nine minutes to take a 30-29 lead at the 4:17 mark. After the two teams traded baskets leading to four ties, Averett took a 37-35 lead into the break when sophomore Davis Absher hit both of his free throws in the final second.
 
Averett was able to open the game up in the second half, going ahead by as many as seven several times. However, the Panthers chipped away and eventually took as much as a three-point, 54-51, with Jamal Pullen's jumper at the 11:01 mark. The Cougars answered, re-establishing a 60-55 lead when junior Bradley Robinson hit his layup with 9:11 remaining. Ferrum was able to get within one at the 4:32 mark, but Averett held them off down the stretch. Averett went 6-for-6 over the last 30-seconds to seal the victory for the Cougars.
 
Jones and junior Trevor West paced the Cougars with 16 points apiece. Senior Cody Stephens came off the bench to add 14. Jones led Averett in rebounds with seven.
 
Averett scored 50 points in the paint and shot a season-best 55.8 percent from the field in the victory, their ninth in the last 10 games.
 
Rashawn Speas led the Panthers with 18.
 
The Cougars take to the court again on Sunday when they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on William Peace University in conference action.