DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's basketball fell 54-51 to conference foe Eastern Mennonite University in Old Dominion Athletic Conference action Saturday on in the Grant Center.
Averett (9-15, 5-10 ODAC) trailed 52-49 with 4:03 to play, but the Cougars got jumpers from junior
Jason Sellars II and senior
Bryson McLaughlin to get within 52-51 with 2:09 remaining. With its defense getting stops at the other end, Averett had several opportunities to grab the lead, including in the final seconds. The Cougars got a look from beyond the arc and nearly got a putback on the offensive rebound, but it didn't fall. Averett fouled the Royals, putting them on the line where they hit both free throws to extend their lead to three points with 2.3 seconds left.
After a timeout, Averett set up a final play and got a solid look from 3-point range that would have tied the game, but it was off the mark as Eastern Mennonite (6-17, 2-12 ODAC) escaped with a win.
Sellars finished with his 10th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. McLaughlin and sophomore
Clay Hodges each added eight points.
Both teams swapped leads throughout the first half before EMU settled with a 29-24 lead at the break after scoring the final four points of the half. Averett surged back ahead by as many as five points early in the second half until the Royals made their run.
Averett men's basketball honored its alumni during halftime as part of its basketball alumni reunion weekend. The Cougars also held an alumni game earlier Saturday.
The Cougars finish the season at home on Saturday, Feb. 18, against Bridgewater College at 4:30 p.m., which will serve as the program's senior day.
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