HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. — Averett University men's basketball senior Raja Milton scored a career-high 25 points and junior Jordan Lewis added 20 points but Hampden-Sydney College outlasted the Cougars 71-67 in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action on Wednesday night.

Hampden-Sydney (4-3, 2-0 ODAC) used a 9-0 run just before the half to go up by 10 — the Tigers' largest lead of the first period. Milton, however, countered with a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the half that trimmed the Averett deficit to 40-33 by halftime.

The Cougars carried the momentum from that big Milton shot into the second half as Averett (5-2, 1-1 ODAC) caught fire from beyond the arc. Milton hit four of Averett's five 3-pointers in the opening five minutes of the second half as the Cougars stormed back to take a 50-49 lead.

Hampden-Sydney regained the lead with an 8-0 run and held off several late runs by the Cougars to escape with the win. Averett closed the gap to 70-67 with under 10 seconds to play, but the Tigers hit a free throw in the final seconds to make it a four-point game and put it out of reach.

The Tigers found success in the paint, outscoring Averett 40-18 for the game. Hampden-Sydney shot 48 percent from the floor and scored 71 points, both of which were season-highs for Averett opponents this season.

Redshirt sophomore Jem Lowrance added eight points off the bench for Averett, which had its five-game win streak snapped. The Cougars shot 47 percent from the floor and matched their season-high with eight made 3-pointers.

Averett returns home Saturday to host Christopher Newport University, the newly ranked No. 1 team in the d3hoops.com poll this week.


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