VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Four Cougars scored in double digits as Averett University men's basketball defeated Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) 56-38 on Sunday afternoon to finish play at Virginia Wesleyan University's North Beach Plastic Surgery X-Max Classic.
Averett (2-10) picked up a crucial win to finish the 2023 calendar year on a positive note and end an eight-game skid. During that tough stretch, the Cougars faced multiple nationally ranked teams and teams receiving votes in the poll. Although the Cougars played competitively close in most of those losses — including two losses by three points or less —they hadn't been able to finish off an opponent since a 55-54 home win over Greensboro College on Nov. 15. That changed on Sunday.
Against Johnson & Wales (3-7), Averett never trailed after freshman
Nick Andrew's 3-pointer put the Cougars in front 14-13 with 7:33 left in the first half. From there, Averett built a 25-18 lead by halftime.
The Wildcats got within 32-30 midway through the second half before Averett pulled away thanks to key shots and strong defense that limited Johnson & Wales to only eight points over the final 13-plus minutes.
Averett shot 40.4 percent from the field, including 40 percent from beyond the arc as the Cougars matched their season-high with 8 made 3-pointers. Junior
Bryce Shaw led Averett's offense with 14 points, including a team-best three 3-pointers. Senior
Jason Sellars II finished with a double-double of 12 points while matching his career high of 13 rebounds. Sellars also had a season-high four blocks. Senior
Jordan Lewis also scored in double figures with 11 points and redshirt junior
Jem Lowrance gave the Cougars a boost of the bench with 11 points and five rebounds.
Sellars was named to the all-tournament team following the completion of both of Sunday's games at the North Beach Plastic Surgery X-Max Classic.
The Cougars' defense held Johnson & Wales to only 38 points, the lowest scoring total by an opponent since Averett limited William Peace University to 39 points in February 2021 and just six shy of the Averett program record for fewest points ever allowed in a game (32 by Warren Wilson College in November 1993).
Averett will break for the holidays before returning to the court on Jan. 3 with a road game at Roanoke College.
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