WINCHESTER, VA – Shenandoah University controlled the game in overtime to take a 79-78 win at home over Hampden-Sydney College. H-SC sits at 11-6 and 4-4 in the ODAC while Shenandoah improves to 2-15 and 1-7.

It was a tight game throughout regulation with neither team leading by more than seven and also featured 12 ties and six lead changes. H-SC struggled with turnovers throughout the first half but took a 33-26 leading going into halftime. Shenandoah wiped out that deficit and took a three-point lead, 41-38, by starting out the second frame on a 15-5 run. The Hornets continued to gradually build their lead, going up by seven, 47-40, six minutes in.

The Hornets held that lead until 8:16 when a Guilherme Guimarães (Ribeirão Preto, Brazil / Miller School) dunk knotted the game at 54-54. The dunk helped spark the Tigers as they went out in front 62-57 with 3:18 left in regulation. H-SC continued to lead by five, 65-60, with 1:43 left, but a Xavier Alston layup and a Malcolm Clark dunk and free throw made it a 65-65 game with 51 seconds to go. Greg Lewis (Mechanicsville, VA / Hanover) made a jumper at 43 seconds to take the lead back for H-SC. Alston was fouled and missed both of his free throw attempts, but Clark got the offensive rebound and put it back in to tie the game at 32 seconds. Mike Murray (Norfolk, VA / Norfolk Christian) missed a shot at a game-winner at six seconds and got his own rebound but came down out of bounds. Aaron Patterson got a good look at a game-winner as time expired but missed to send it to overtime.

Clark scored the first points of the extra session on two free throws at 4:44, and Shenandoah led by seven following a Clark free throw with 28 seconds remaining. Mitch Owens (Williamsburg, VA / Walsingham) drained a three pointer nine seconds later, H-SC forced a turnover, and Murray made a layup and free throw to put the Tigers down just one with nine seconds left. Aaron Patterson was sent to the foul line for two shots and made both, putting Shenandoah up 78-75 with eight ticks on the clock. The Tigers turned over the ball on their next possession and committed a foul at one second. Alston missed the first but made the second to put SU up four and seal the game as a Murray three at the buzzer was good.

Murray had a team-high 21 points on 9-14 shooting to go with four rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Owens added 16 points, six boards, three assists, and two steals. Jake Duncan (Williamsburg, VA / Williamsburg Christian) scored 12 while Guimarães had 10 points.

Aaron Patterson scored a game-high 29 points, going 9-13 overall and 7-10 from three. Clark posted 18 points and seven boards while Alston totaled 14 points and six caroms.

H-SC shot 55.2% for the game and held Shenandoah to a 42.9% performance. The Hornets hoisted up 33 three pointers and made 10 (30.3%) while the Tigers were 7-17 (41.2%). The difference proved to be at the free throw line where Hampden-Sydney made just seven of their 13 attempts. On the other hand, Shenandoah won the game at the foul line, going 21-33. The Hornets also outrebounded H-SC 35-27 while grabbing 13 offensive rebounds.

Hampden-Sydney travels to Washington & Lee on Wednesday for a 7 pm game.