SALISBURY, MD (December 6, 2009)—In the championship game of the Salisbury University Optimist Classic, Hampden-Sydney had a tough shooting night going just 33.9 percent via 21-of-62 shooting while falling to host Salisbury 68-62. Despite their struggles, the Tigers nearly overcame a 21 point deficit with just over 11 minutes to play.

Hampden-Sydney scored the first bucket of the game on a Colin O'Neill (Fort Leavenworth, KS/Fort Leavenworth) lay up, but Salisbury responded quickly with a Drew Dickson three pointer. The two teams traded baskets for the next eight minutes with four lead changes. Salisbury ended the lead changing with a three pointer that put the Seagulls up 14-13 at the 11:57 mark.

Salisbury hit three more three pointers while freshman Alex Potapov (Moscow, Russia/Florida Air)knocked in a free throw and senior Turner King (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Catholic) hit a three of his own to put the score at 23-17.

Salisbury kept its hot shooting streak to turn on a 12-3 run behind seven points from Devin Jones.

Hampden-Sydney returned the favor, however, and closed the half the right way with eight unanswered points, including the final five points of the half from senior Karlis Trops (Riga, Latvia/Charlotte Latin).

The second stanza started just as it did the day before with sophomore Ben Jessee (Midlothian, VA/Cosby) canning a three, putting the Tigers within four to start the half.

Salisbury again responded with 15 unanswered points to take a commanding 51-31 lead with 13:20 to play. Randall Ward (Richmond, VA/John Marshall) hit a jumper which was followed by a Greg Palmer trey, to give the Tigers their largest deficit of the night at 54-33.

Hampden-Sydney, with its deep and talented scoring ability, was far from out. Over the next four minutes, the Tigers went on a furious 17-0 run with six different players scoring. Hampden-Sydney's defense also cranked it up a notch forcing five turnovers in that four minute span, to help cut the Salisbury lead to 54-50.

Greg Palmer finally changed the Salisbury score with a three, but Ward came right back with a jumper of his own. Both teams traded triples to put the score at 60-55. After Jessee connected on three foul shots, the Tigers trailed by just two points with 3:13 remaining.

Palmer and O'Neill traded jumpers, and Hampden-Sydney kept the game within two with just over two minutes to play.

Hampden-Sydney, however, could not get over the hump and Salisbury scored eight straight points, before Mudd got the final bucket of the game putting the Tigers down 68-62.

Each team pulled down 34 rebounds while Hampden-Sydney pulled down 20 on the offensive end. The Tigers were just 33.9% from the field while Salisbury shot 53.1% (26-49) and a blistering 68.2% (15-22) from beyond the arc.

Jessee led the team with 12 points while King added 10 points in addition to being named to the all-tournament team. Trops pitched in with nine points, and Harrison George (Raleigh, NC/Leesville) had six points and a team-high seven rebounds.

The Seagulls were led by Greg Palmer who poured in 25 points on 9-14 shooting and a 7-8 mark from three point range. Devin Jones also had a solid night with 18 points.

With the loss Hampden-Sydney falls to 4-2 on the year. The Tigers return to action the Wednesday, December 9 as they host ODAC-foe #4 Guilford College. This will be the Tigers' last home game before the Christmas break. Tip off is set for 7:00 pm.