DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's basketball hit big shots down the stretch to help the Cougars advance to the USA South Conference Tournament semifinals with a 75-65 quarterfinals win over N.C. Wesleyan College on Tuesday night in the Grant Center.

Averett (20-6), the No. 1 seed in the East Division, will face West Division No. 2 seed Huntingdon College at 7 p.m. Friday. The Cougars will host the semifinals and finals Friday and Saturday, with West No. 1 seed Covenant College taking on East No. 3 seed Methodist University in Friday's other semifinal at 5 p.m.

In front of an electric atmosphere, Averett had to hold off East No. 4 seed N.C. Wesleyan (13-13) in the second half. Down 32-29 at half, the Battling Bishops took a one-point lead multiple times in the opening minutes of the second half. However, Averett responded with a 13-0 run midway through the period that was sparked by a pair of freshmen. After Bryson McLaughlin's layup put the Cougars back in front by one, McLaughlin got a steal at the other end and got a transition layup. Averett followed that with a Corey Baldwin 3-pointer on the next possession to fuel the big run.

Averett's lead grew to 12 points with 8:54 to play before N.C. Wesleyan chipped it down to only six, 55-49, with 6:45 on the clock. Junior Montre' Cash answered with a deep 3-pointer, and the Cougars got another big basket by McLaughlin and a huge 3-pointer from junior Bryson Davis to keep a 63-55 lead with 4:15 remaining.

The Bishops continued to fight, getting back within four points with 1:13 left. However, Averett hit all eight of its free throws in the final 1:05 to thrwart any comeback attempt by N.C. Wesleyan. Averett was 13-for-13 from the foul line in the second half as a team.

Averett overcame a slow start in which N.C. Wesleyan opened with a 17-7 advantage. Sophomore Isaiah Jones powered the Cougars' rally in the first half by scoring 16 of his team-high 18 points before the half as Averett turned a 10-point deficit into as much as a seven-point lead until the Bishops pulled within three by halftime.

Jones and senior Timothy Henry each had a double-double to lead Averett. Henry had 17 points, with both Henry and Jones grabbing 13 rebounds. The 13 boards matched Jones' career-high. Cash also added 14 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Cougars. Baldwin chipped in nine points.

Damon McDowell led four Bishops in double-figure scoring with 18 points off the bench.

With the quarterfinal win against N.C. Wesleyan, Averett extended its program-record winning streak to 14 games while also tying the program record for most wins in a season with 20 — matching the 1989-09, 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2008-09 teams. The victory was also Averett's third over N.C. Wesleyan this season and fifth consecutive win against the Bishops dating back to the 2018-19 campaign.

In the other USA South quarterfinals, Huntingdon pulled away late to beat West No. 3 seed Piedmont 87-72. Covenant used a last-second 3-pointer in overtime to edge West No. 4 seed Maryville College, while Methodist upset East No. 2 seed William Peace University 90-83.