DANVILLE, Va. — Freshman Tyler Stephens scored a career-high 26 points as Averett University men's basketball rolled to a 102-59 non-conference win over Johnson & Wales University (N.C.) on Tuesday in the E. Stuart James Grant Center.

Averett (7-2) raced out to an 11-2 start in the first three-plus minutes. Although Johnson & Wales (1-10) closed the gap to five points several times over the next few minutes, the Cougars' offense found its rhythm as Averett shot 52.8 percent from the floor the first half to build as much as a 19-ponit lead while taking a 49-31 advantage into halftime. Freshman Tyler Stephens was a big part of that push, surpassing his previous career-high in points before the break by totaling 16 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Mason Mitchell, the reigning Old Dominion Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, added nine points and five rebounds in the opening period.
 
Averett continued to expand its lead in the second half as Stephens notched a double-double of 26 points and 10 boards. Mitchell finished with 15 points, junior Terrell Fitzgerald added a career-high 11 points and redshirt sophomore Blair Crumbie chipped in 10 points as Averett pulled away. Sophomore Jackson Sellars added seven points to go with team-highs of six assists and five steals.
The Cougars limited Johnson & Wales to under 35 percent shooting from the floor.

Averett won its third game in a row and seventh contest in its last eight games.

The 102 points is the most by Averett since a 103-101 double-overtime win at William Peace University on Feb. 15, 2018. The Cougars surpassed the century mark three times that season, including a 108-90 win over Greensboro College in regulation on Jan. 27, 2018.
 
Averett breaks for the holidays before returning to action at Division I Longwood University on Dec. 28.


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