GAME-WINNING SHOT (YouTube)
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Sophomore
Ryan Clements/Conyers, GA made a game-winning three-point field goal with just four-tenths of a second remaining to lead Hampden-Sydney College to a dramatic 71-70 non-conference basketball road win at the University of Lynchburg on Tuesday night in Lynchburg. Clements' shot off the glass from left of the circle beat the final buzzer after the Hornets had made 1-2 free throws with 17.5-seconds on the clock to lead 70-68. Freshman
Davidson Hubbard/Charlotte, NC led the visiting Tigers (2-4) with a career-high 19 points off the bench, while senior captain
Jake Hahn/Ruckersville added 17 points and Clements finished with 14 points—none bigger than the final three. Tharon Suggs scored a game-high 32 points for Lynchburg (3-3).
"Wow, what a finish tonight," said second-year head coach
Caleb Kimbrough, whose team won its second-straight game. "The guys have been adjusting and finding ways to get better all year through a lot of adversity. So proud of our effort and composure tonight. Great win!"
Lynchburg took an early 6-4 advantage at 17:13 of the first half before H-SC used a 12-3 run to take their largest lead of the opening half at 16-9 with 11:21 on the clock. Hahn sparked the quick outburst with eight points, including a conventional three-point play inside and a three-pointer. The Hornets closed to within 16-14 at 9:08, but the Tigers outscored their hosts 9-5 to lead 25-19 at 6:19, getting four quick points from Hubbard. Lynchburg answered back with nine-straight points to go ahead 28-25 at 4:21, but the visitors responded well, outscoring the Hornets 7-3 to the first-half horn to lead 32-31 at the intermission—Hubbard with 10 points at the break.
H-SC got a three-pointer from freshman
Adam Brazil/Mooresville, NC to open the second half, and led 47-41 at 13:07 after consecutive baskets inside from Hubbard and Hahn. The Tigers matched their largest lead at 53-46 with 10:30 remaining after a steal and high-flying slam dunk by Clements. Lynchburg answered with seven-straight points to tie it at 53-53 with 6:13 on the clock, but freshman
Alex Elliott/Marietta, GA responded with a big three-pointer off the bench for the visitors at 5:57. The game with tied four more times down the stretch, including at 66-66 with 1:17 left after another huge three-pointer from Elliott. An old-fashioned three-point play by Suggs had the hosts ahead 69-66 at 59.6-seconds, but freshman
Josiah Hardy/Ashburn made two free throws with 42.2-seconds remaining to make it 69-68. Suggs made 1-2 free throws at 17.5-seconds for the 70-68 advantage, before Clements provided the heroics while successful on his
game-winning three-pointer off the glass from left of the circle just ahead of the final buzzer at 0.4.
Hubbard led H-SC with his career-high 19 points, adding a career-high seven rebounds—four on the offensive end. Hahn finished with 17 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers, while Clements had 14 points, including the game-winner, along with a career-high and game-high seven steals. Hardy contributed eight points, three assists and two blocks, Elliott had a career-high eight points, including 2-2 three-pointers, and Brazil added five points. H-SC shot 44% (27-61) from the field, including 31% (5-16) on three-pointers, and 60% (12-20) at the free throw line.
Suggs led Lynchburg with his game-high 32 points, including 5-8 three-pointers. Luke Romeo finished with 12 points off the bench for the Hornets. Lynchburg shot 46% (24-52) from the field, including 46% (10-22) on three-pointers, and 75% (12-16) at the line.
It was the Tigers' first win against Lynchburg since January 21, 2015—a 63-61 road win in Lynchburg, as the Hornets had won nine-straight games against H-SC, who was playing its first game since February 5.
H-SC will play its seventh consecutive game on the road when it travels to play another non-conference contest at Virginia Wesleyan University on Friday evening, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. in Virginia Beach. A previously-scheduled conference home game against archrival Randolph-Macon College on Feb. 19
has been canceled due to health and safety protocols.
Please remember that the schedule remains
subject to change.