EMORY, VA (February 9, 2008)�Hampden-Sydney's basketball team improved to 11-9 overall and 5-8 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference as the Tigers scored a 94-89 victory over the Emory and Henry Wasps on Saturday afternoon at the King Center in Emory, VA. The Tigers shot 60.3 percent from field and 62.5 percent from three-point range, making 10-of-16 shots from behind-the-arc to defeat the Wasps. The tigers were led by freshman guardBrent Dillard (Dalzell, SC/Camden Military Academy) as he finished with a career-high 20 points, while three other Tigers finished in double-figures as well. With the loss, Emory and Henry drops to 6-15 on the season and 2-12 in the conference.
Hampden-Sydney and Emory and Henry opened the game trading baskets before the Wasps took a four-point lead, 13-9, with 15:56 left in the first half. The Tigers took their first lead of the game, 15-13, at the 13:25 mark on a three-pointer from freshman gaurd Paul Matthews (Greensburg, PA/Greensburg Salem). The two teams would battle through four ties and four lead changes over the next four minutes before the Wasps took a five-point lead, 33-28, with 7:56 remaining until halftime. The Wasps would push their advantage to as many as ten points 48-38, but Matthews knocked down another three-pointer to cut the Wasps' halftime advantage to seven points, 48-41.
The Tigers picked up the defensive intensity in the early portions of the second half, creating an 11-4 run to tie the game, 52-52, just four minutes into the second half. Tiger freshman Matt Partsch (Roanoke, VA/Hidden Valley) gave Hampden-Sydney a two-point lead, 54-52, at the 15:02 mark. The Tigers outscored the Wasps 13-8 over the next four minutes to take a 67-60 lead. Hampden-Sydney took their biggest lead, 87-76, with 3:42 remaining, but the Wasps answered with an 11-2 run to cut the lead to two points, 89-87, with just 31 seconds left, but the Tigers sank several free throws down the stretch to claim the 94-89 victory.
Hampden-Sydney had four players score in double-figures, led by Dillard with career-highs of 20 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Also scoring in double-figures for Hampden-Sydney was senior Troy Kaase (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) with 18 points and a game-high ten rebounds, while sophomore Turner King (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Catholic) and seniorDrew Prehmus (Atlanta, GA/Wesleyan School) added 16 points apiece. Prehmus finished with a game and career-high nine assists. Emory and Henry was led by Camillo Weinz who scored 20 points, while Kyle Huckins added 16 points. Robert Huckins scored 15 points for the Wasps, while Jarell Christian and J.D. Dyson chipped in with 13 and 12 points respectively.
The Tigers shot 60.3 (35-of-58) percent from the field, including 62.5 (10-of-16) percent from behind-the-arc, and 70.0 (14-of-20) percent from the charity stripe, while Emory and Henry finished at 47.1 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from three-point range. The Tigers held a slight advantage on the boards, 36-33.
The Tigers return to action at home on Wednesday, February 13, as they welcome ODAC-foe Guilford College to S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm. Come out and support the Tigers! Fans can also catch all the exciting hardwood action on WFLO 95.7 FM or www.hsc.edu.
