BOX SCORE | PHOTO ALBUM (Facebook)
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Senior team captain
Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) scored a game-high 23 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team, but nationally-ranked No. 1 Hampden-Sydney College dropped a heartbreaking 69-61 decision to No. 13 Trine (IN) University in the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Championship on Saturday evening at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Senior team captain
Josiah Hardy (Ashburn) and classmate
Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) each added nine points for the top-ranked Tigers, while fifth-year
Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) and sophomore
Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) (off the bench) each finished with eight points. H-SC led 25-23 at halftime, but the 13th-ranked Thunder began the second half with a 13-3 run, and the Garnet & Grey were not able to get closer than three points (50-47) with 4:06 remaining—completing their storybook season with a final school record of 31-3—the second National Runner-Up finish in program history (1999). Trine was led by Tournament MVP Cortez Garland with 22 points and completed its season at 29-4.
H-SC led early at 7-4 following a three-point field goal by Brazil from the left corner at 16:56 that followed a drive to the basket by Clements and a baseline jumper by Hardy. The Tigers extended their lead to 11-6 at 14:34 after a pair of baskets inside, the first from Fernald on an offensive rebound and the second by Hubbard down low. The Garnet & Grey increased the margin even further and took their largest lead of the contest at 19-10 with 6:15 on the first-half clock, getting back-to-back three-pointers from Brazil out top, the first just left of the circle and the second just right, along with a reverse layup by Fernald. TU got back into it with a 13-0 run to lead 23-19 at 2:13 behind five quick points from Nate Tucker. H-SC, however, scored the final six points of the half to lead 25-23 at the intermission—Brazil connecting on his fourth three-pointer from the left wing just ahead of the shot-clock with nine-seconds left for the two-point margin.
TU began the second half with a 13-3 run to go ahead 36-28 with 14:14 left to play as Garland scored nine quick points. Hubbard stopped the run with a three-pointer from the left corner, before Fernald made a steal at the other end and went coast-to-coast for a layup to make it 36-33 at 13:11. H-SC had a couple of ensuing opportunities to tie it, but missed on two three-pointers. The Thunder took advantage and extended the margin to their largest lead of the contest at 50-41 with 5:47 on the clock, getting five quick points from Drew Moore. The Tigers battled back and were able to close to with 50-47 at 4:21 following two free throws by Clements, and layups from Hubbard and Hardy. Garland responded with a conventional three-point play at 3:42, and a three-pointer pushed the lead back to nine points at 56-47 with 3:00 remaining. The Garnet & Grey kept fighting but could get no closer than 63-58 after a pair of free throws by Brazil with under a minute remaining, as TU secured its win with 11-12 free throws over the final 1:54. The contest was played before a Division III men's basketball title game record crowd of 4,546.
Brazil led H-SC with his game-high 23 points, including 5-11 three-pointers and 6-6 free throws, adding a game-high two steals for a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Hardy and Hubbard each finished with their respective nine points for the Tigers, with Hubbard adding seven rebounds, and Hardy adding four rebounds. Clements and Fernald each contributed eight points, with Fernald adding five rebounds and a game-high two steals, as well. Senior
Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) had three points and seven rebounds, while fifth-year
Chase Turner (Virginia Beach) added one point and seven rebounds, as well. H-SC shot 32% (21-66) from the field, including 35% (7-20) on three-pointers, and 71% (12-17) at the free throw line.
Garland led TU with his 22 points, including 9-9 free throws for Tournament MVP honors. Tucker finished with 13 points for the Thunder, while Aidan Smylie added 12 points and a game-high five assists. Moore contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. TU shot 41% (20-49) from the field, including 37% (7-19) on three-pointers, and 88% (22-25) at the line.
The National Championship game will be televised on the digital cable and satellite CBS Sports Network (DIRECTV-221; DISH-158), tape-delayed tonight at 11 p.m. Jordan Kent handled the play-by-play, while Mo Cassara served as analyst.
The 2024 ODAC Tournament Champions finished with 26 wins in their last 28 games overall, and attained a new school record for season wins (31), with its finest season in 25 years when the 1998-99 Tigers also advanced to the National Championship. The Garnet & Grey previously won their record-11th ODAC Tournament title on February 25, while playing in their record-16th ODAC championship game. H-SC attained its first 30-win season and only its sixth 25-win season in program history, while the 17th overall 20-win season, also the second consecutive 20-win campaign to mark the first time since 2002-03 (28-4) and 2003-04 (25-5) with back-to-back 20-win seasons.
Please join us in welcoming back your Tigers! Sunday night, March 17, at 8 p.m. in Kirby Field House.
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