FARMVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's basketball trimmed its deficit to 10 in the final minutes of the game, but Division I Longwood University held off the Cougars' comeback attempt for an 86-67 victory on Wednesday night at Willett Hall.
 
Averett (2-6) trailed by as much as 19 points midway through the second half before mounting a 15-6 run over the next five minutes. Junior James Contreras Jr.'s layup with 4:52 remaining shrunk the Longwood advantage to 77-67.
 
Longwood (3-6) answered with a 9-0 run to finish the game.
 
Averett sophomore Jalen Burnett and junior Darin Ketner each matched their career-highs with 15 points and 14 points, respectively. Ketner also grabbed a career-best eight rebounds to lead the Cougars. Senior Charles Bryant finished with 12 points and seven rebounds, while freshman Taj Thompson added 10 points off the bench.
 
As a team, Averett matched its season-high total of seven made 3-pointers.
 
Averett hung close in the first half by hitting the boards and outrebounding Longwood 25-16, which resulted in the Cougars outscoring the Lancers 14-4 in second-chance points. Averett also hit five 3-pointers, including one by Ketner with 5:02 left in the period to pull the Cougars within 34-29 before Longwood extended its lead back to 44-32 by halftime.
 
The Lancers shot 61.8 percent from the floor and used their size advantage to outscore Averett 46-28 in the paint. However, Averett outrebounded Longwood 38-33.
 
Darrion Allen led Longwood six players in double-figure scoring with 24 points.
 
Averett continues its road swing this weekend at the Swarthmore College's Garnet Holiday Tournament. The Cougars open with Roanoke College Saturday at 8 p.m.