BOX SCORE

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior guard Ayman McGowan (Memphis, TN) scored a career-high and game-high 31 points, including a school-record nine three-point field goals, to lead nationally-ranked No. 8 Hampden-Sydney College to a 95-78 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball home win past Eastern Mennonite University in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. Junior forward and team captain Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) added 20 points, a game-high nine rebounds, four assists and a game-high three steals, freshman guard Peter Moye (Charlotte, NC) had 13 points off the bench, and All-American fifth-year guard and third-year team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) contributed 11 points and a game-high six assists. The Tigers led 44-40 at halftime before a 17-4 run early in the second half led to the Garnet & Grey outscoring their visitors 51-38 in the second half. H-SC improved to 21-4 overall, finishing 14-2 in the ODAC, and earning the #2 seed for the upcoming ODAC Tournament. EMU finished its season at 5-20 overall, 2-14 in the ODAC, and was led by Payton Lewis with 15 points off the bench.

"What a special day honoring our four seniors while closing out the regular season strong," said sixth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "AB, Nick, Ayman and Payton have worked extremely hard to develop an expectation in this program of being the standard of excellence in Division III basketball. Their impact on H-SC and this program will last forever."

H-SC, ranked No. 8 in the latest NCAA Power Index (NPI) as well as the D3hoops.com Top 25, took an early 9-4 lead behind five quick points from McGowan, including his first three-pointer at 16:52 for the five-point margin. EMU, however, had other ideas and put together a 19-8 run to lead 23-17 with 10:12 on the first-half clock—getting seven quick points from Lewis, including a three-pointer. The Tigers responded with a 16-3 outburst lead go ahead 33-26 at the 5:00 mark, the last nine points coming on a three-pointer by Brazil and two more triples from McGowan. The Garnet & Grey still led 42-35 after a layup by Brazil with 1:32 left in the half, but the Royals closed to within 44-40 at the intermission.

H-SC began the second half with a three-pointer by senior guard Nick Shryock (Davidson, NC), but EMU answered with a three-pointer of its own, keeping the margin at four (47-43). The Tigers then used the 17-4 run to take control, leading 64-47 with 12:58 remaining. Fernald sparked it with six points down low, Brazil added four points, McGowan connected on another three-pointer and both Shryock and Moye added layups. The Royals did manage to get to within 74-63 at 6:58, but Moye scored seven unanswered points himself to push the margin to 81-63 with 4:28 left to play. The Garnet & Grey took their largest lead at 92-71 after McGowan's eighth three-pointer at 1:40, and Ayman connected on his record ninth triple with 38-seconds remaining toward the final margin.

McGowan led H-SC with his career-high and game-high 31 points (11-20 FGs), including 9-17 three-pointers, equaling his career-high with six rebounds, along with one assist and one steal in 29 minutes. Ayman's record nine three-pointers surpassed the previous record of eight, accomplished three times previously, including by TJ Grimes (2000), Jay Patrick (2001) and Greg Lewis (2013). Fernald added his 20 points, game-high nine rebounds, as well as four assists and a game-high three steals for the Tigers. Moye had his 13 points, adding a career-high five rebounds and equaling his career-high with two assists in 18 minutes. Brazil had his 11 points and game-high six assists. Shryock finished with nine points, six rebounds and three assists, and freshman guard Travis Stickney (Mount Pleasant, SC) contributed six points and equaled his career-high with seven rebounds. H-SC shot 53% (37-70) from the field, including 36% (11-31) on three-pointers, and 63% (10-16) at the free throw line. The Garnet & Grey enjoyed a 46-28 advantage in points scored in the paint, and a 23-12 advantage in second chance points, out-rebounding their visitors 43-28, including 18-8 on the offensive glass.

Lewis led EMU with his 15 points off the bench. Aaron Brooks added 13 points, while Zach Bailey and Isaiah Carr each had 12 points for the Royals. EMU shot 46% (28-61) from the field, including 38% (8-21) on three-pointers, and 88% (14-16) at the line.

As mentioned, H-SC has earned the #2 seed for the upcoming ODAC Men's Basketball Tournament and will remain at home to host #7 seed the University of Lynchburg in a Quarterfinal contest on Wednesday night, February 26, at 7 p.m. in Fleet Gym. Tickets can be purchased at the Athletic Administrative Office in the Kirk Athletic Center on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 24-25, from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and at the entrance to Fleet Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 26, beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, free for H-SC and Lynchburg students with their respective college IDs and free for high school students and younger.