HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (February 7, 2008)—Ben Jessee (Midlothian, VA/Cosby) poured in a game-high 18 points and Shane Payne (Weston, FL/Sagemont) recorded a double-double of 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as Hampden-Sydney halted its four-game losing streak with an 85-74 win over visiting Emory and Henry on Saturday afternoon.
Jessee and Payne were also masterful distributors for Hampden-Sydney (10-12, 5-8 ODAC) as each player notched five assists. The Tigers placed three other players in double figures in the victory, asJonathan Mudd (Miami, FL/American), Turner King (Roanoke, VA/Roanoke Catholic) and Karlis Trops (Riga, Latvia/Charlotte Latin) tallied 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively.
With the win, Hampden-Sydney swept the season series with Emory and Henry and defeated the Wasps for the fifth straight time.
While the intense Emory and Henry defensive pressure forced Hampden-Sydney into 21 turnovers, it would be the Tigers' composure and persistence from the field that prevailed on this occasion.
In a competitive first half that witnessed six ties, nine lead changes and never had a team hold more than a five-point lead, Hampden-Sydney managed just one three-pointer in ten attempts while shooting a mere five free throws.
Nevertheless, a plus-seven rebounding margin and 12 Wasps' turnovers kept Hampden-Sydney within striking distance in the opening frame, and a Byron Lawton (High Point, NC/Wesleyan) layup following a Payne steal with 17 seconds remaining staked the Tigers a 32-31 halftime lead.
Both teams battled back and forth for the opening 10 minutes of the second half, resulting in four more ties and eight lead changes over that span. But Hampden-Sydney's persistence finally paid off in the final 9:59.
Following a Huckins layup that brought the Wasps within 55-53 at the 9:59 mark, a Mudd layup sparked a key 17-3 Tigers' spurt over the next 5:52, capped by a Trops lay-in that put H-SC ahead 72-56 with 4:07 remaining.
The five Tigers that scored in double figures each scored during that run, epitomizing the balanced attack that eventually overcame Emory and Henry's defensive intensity.
Hampden-Sydney's lead grew to 17 on a Larry Henshaw (Petersburg, VA/Prince George) triple with 3:14 to play and the Tigers, who earned 19 second half free throws, went 8-for-8 from the stripe down the stretch to seal their tenth win of the year.
The Tigers shot 50.8 percent for the game and connected on 5-of-10 three-point attempts in the second half. Hampden-Sydney outrebounded Emory and Henry 45-28.
The Wasps were led by Camillo Weinz who posted 18 points on six three-pointers. Terrance Grigg chipped in with 13 points and four rebounds for Emory and Henry (10-12, 4-9 ODAC) which saw its two-game win streak snapped.
Hampden-Sydney will be back in action on Wednesday, February 11 when it takes on Roanoke College in a 7:00 pm tip-off.
