DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University men's basketball got within five in the second half before No. 3 Hampden-Sydney College pulled away late for an 81-52 conference win on the Cougars' Senior Night in the Grant Center on Wednesday.
 
Down 12 points at halftime, Averett (4-19, 2-12 ODAC) surged within striking distance in the opening minutes of the second period. Freshman Jamison Graves narrowed the deficit to seven, then senior Jordan Lewis' jumper got the Cougars within 39-34 of Hampden-Sydney (20-2, 12-2 ODAC) with 15:44 to play. The Tigers, who were ranked No. 1 until a loss to nationally ranked Randolph-Macon College last Saturday, answered with a 12-0 run to take a 51-34 advantage by the 12:11 mark. Although Averett got several big 3-pointers from freshman Nick Andrew down the stretch, Hampden-Sydney distanced itself down the stretch.

Graves led Averett with 15 points off the bench, while Andrew had nine points. Lewis totaled eight points and a team-high five rebounds.

Averett opened the game with a 3-pointer by Lewis before Hampden-Sydney went on an 11-0 run to take the early lead. The Tigers mostly led by double digits throughout the first half on their way to a 35-23 lead at the break.

Prior to the game, Averett honored its six seniors — Lewis, Jamael Carter Jr., Jason Sellars II, Jem Lowrance, Zach Shumate and Fermin Borbua-Watson. Sports medicine also honored student intern Jenna Franklin.

The Cougars finish the season on the road with away contests at Shenandoah University on Saturday and at University of Lynchburg on Feb. 17.



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