BREVARD, N.C. — Junior Vince Contreras poured in a career-high 31 points, but the Averett University men's basketball team lost its USA South Conference 73-70 to Brevard College on Friday night.  

Down five after the first period, Averett (0-7, 0-1 USA South) stormed out of halftime to an early 49-43 lead paced by the play of Contreras and strong defense by sophomore Montre' Cash. Brevard (4-4, 1-1 USA South) benefited from clutch 3-point shooting midway throughout the second half to tie the game at 62-62. However Contreras drained a 3-pointer with 4:38 remaining to put the Cougars back up 67-64.
 
Brevard answered Contreras' shot with an 6-3 run to tie the game at 70-70 on Levi Lamb's 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining. Ke'Vel Kingsberry gave the Tornados a 72-70 advantage with a fastbreak layup with 40 seconds to play. Brevard added a free throw on its next possession to extend the lead to three. Following a timeout, Averett had one last chance to tie but the Tornados' defense blocked a pair of 3-point attempts to hold off the Cougars in the final seconds.

Contreras lead all scorers with 31 points, surpassing his previous career-high of 25 set last season at Pfeiffer University.

Both squads traded leads throughout the first half. Averett took a 15-11 lead with 13:46 remaining in the opening half, yet, Brevard battled back to pull within one point at 15-14. A clutch 3-pointer by senior Jalen Burnett put the Cougars up 21-17. Brevard answered that basket with back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Drew Mosley to take a 26-21 lead with 5:15 remaining in the opening half. 
 
Freshman Noah Smith came off the bench for the Cougars supplying eight points in the opening frame to help chip away at the Tornados lead, Sophomore Raymond Bullock III supplied Averett's top highlight of the first half, picking up a steal near mid-court and rising up for the dunk in transition. Bullock's slam and Smith's shooting tied the game at 31-31.
 
The Tornados were aided by a corner 3-pointer and a breakaway dunk with time running down in the opening half to take a 36-31 advantage into the break.

Smith added a career-high 10 points for Averett, while junior Timothy Henry led the team with seven rebounds.

For the Tornados Levi Lamb led the squad with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Mosley finished a perfect 4-for-4 from behind the 3-point line. 
 
The Cougars are scheduled to return to action on Monday, Dec.10, as they host Pfeiffer — weather-permitting — at 7:30 p.m.