BOX SCORE

SALEM, Va. -- Senior team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) posted game highs of 20 points and six assists, adding a season-high seven rebounds, while classmate and team captain Josiah Hardy (Ashburn) added a season-high 14 points, along with seven rebounds, as well, to lead nationally-ranked No. 1 Hampden-Sydney College to a 63-52 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Men's Basketball Tournament Semifinal win past Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon at the Salem Civic Center in Salem. Senior Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) added 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the #2 seed Tigers who trailed 30-27 at halftime, and 45-44 with 7:15 remaining, before closing the contest on a 19-7 run to improve to 25-2 overall. The #6 seed Marlins dropped to 19-8 and were led by Paul Anderson with 10 points off the bench. H-SC advances to the 2024 ODAC Tournament Championship and will play #4 seed Washington and Lee University on Sunday afternoon, February 26, at 1 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center. The Tigers last played in the title contest in 2014, and last won a conference tournament championship in 2007, defeating Roanoke 77-62.

"The guys played their hearts out tonight against a tough VWU team that is playing good ball," said fifth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "Our job's not done. One more game."

H-SC took an early 9-2 advantage at 15:27 with nine unanswered points scored by Hubbard, Hardy (4) and senior Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) with a three-point field goal. A three-pointer from fifth-year Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) had the Tigers ahead 14-6 with 12:21 on the first-half clock. VWU, however, used a 15-5 run to lead 21-19 at 7:02 after consecutive three-pointers by Braden Justice (off the bench). Brazil answered with back-to-back three-pointers of his own for a 25-21 advantage at 4:52, but the Marlins outscored the Garnet & Grey 9-2 late for a 30-27 lead at halftime.

H-SC scored the first nine points of the second half to lead 36-30 at 15:39, getting a three-pointer from Hubbard, a basket inside by Brazil, a jumper on the left side from Hardy and a baseline jumper on the right side by Brazil. The Tigers maintained an advantage and led 44-39 with 8:56 remaining after a fast break layup by fifth-year Chase Turner (Virginia Beach), assisted by Brazil. VWU once-again rallied back and took a 45-44 lead at 7:15 via a layup by Anderson. Brazil, however, answered right back with a deep three-pointer straight away for a 47-45 advantage and the Tigers would lead the rest of the way … outscoring the Marlins 19-7 over the final 7:05 for the triumph. Elliott added another three-pointer, followed by a drive to basket by Clements and a three-pointer from fifth-year team captain Miles Harris (Virginia Beach) that capped a quick 11-2 run to make it 55-47 with 3:42 on the clock. Brazil followed with 6-6 free throws on consecutive possessions when fouled on three-point attempts, and Hubbard closed it with an offensive rebound basket in the final minute to provide for the 11-point margin.

Brazil led H-SC with his game highs of 20 points and six assists, adding his season-high seven rebounds, as well—scoring 13 second-half points. Hardy finished with his season-high 14 points for the Tigers, adding his seven rebounds, too—scoring eight first-half points. Hubbard contributed his 11 points and game-high nine rebounds. Elliott had six points and seven rebounds, while Harris also added seven rebounds, as the Garnet & Grey out-rebounded the Marlins 44-32. H-SC shot 38% (23-61) from the field, including 31% (8-26) on three-pointers, and 82% (9-11) at the free throw line.

Anderson led VWU with his 10 points off the bench. The Marlins shot 37% (22-59) from the field, including 31% (4-13) on three-pointers, and 67% (4-6) at the line.

H-SC is now 62-35 all-time in ODAC Tournament games, and will be playing in a record-16th ODAC Tournament Championship game. The Tigers have won 10 ODAC Tournament Titles (tied for most with Randolph-Macon and Roanoke), including eight championships from 1989-2002, and the 62 tournament wins are the most of any school.

The Championship contest on Sunday can be heard locally on WVHL Radio, Kickin' Country 92.9 FM, and will also be available worldwide on the Internet at wvhl.net or via the TuneIn Radio App, while the game will be available to watch courtesy of the ODAC Sports Network.

H-SC and W&L are each charter members of the ODAC, now in its 48th year. The Generals advanced to the title contest with a 74-71 win past #1 seed and nationally-ranked No. 2 Randolph-Macon in the first semifinal on Saturday.