BOX SCORE

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Sophomore guard Tugg Bizzelle (Baltimore, MD) scored a career-high 22 points, but Hampden-Sydney College dropped a 77-67 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men's basketball decision on the road at the University of Lynchburg on Wednesday night in Lynchburg. The visiting Tigers trailed 37-21 at halftime, but were within 67-62 late, before the host Hornets secured their home win with 8-8 free throws over the final 1:12. Sophomore guards Peter Moye (Charlotte, NC) and Travis Stickney (Mount Pleasant, SC) each added 13 points for the Garnet & Grey. H-SC dropped to 13-9 overall, 7-6 in the ODAC, while Lynchburg improved to 13-9 overall, 8-5 in the ODAC. The Hornets were led by Jamarcus Brown with a game-high 30 points, while Jayson Easton added 24 points.

"We didn't have it tonight in a big road match-up," said seventh-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "We are working hard to get connected and we will continue to do so. But until we realize that talent alone isn't going to make us a great team, we will be very inconsistent. I'm thankful we have more games with this group and still can work to figure things out."

H-SC and Lynchburg entered the contest tied for fifth-place among 12 teams in the ODAC Standings with two weeks remaining in the regular season. The Tigers scored the first points of the contest as Bizzelle connected on a three-point field at 19:27 for the early 3-0 advantage. The Hornets, however, responded with the next 20 points to lead 20-3 with 11:49 on the first-half clock, as Brown and Easton each scored six points. H-SC answered with baskets from senior forward Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) and Bizzelle to make it 20-7 at 10:19, but Lynchburg used a 15-6 run to lead 35-13 at 1:43 with Easton and Brown combining for nine more points. The visitors were able to outscore their hosts 8-2 to close the deficit to 37-21 at halftime, as Moye and Bizzelle sandwiched three-pointers around two free throws by Stickney.

H-SC scored the first four points of the second half with baskets from Bizzelle and Moye to close within 37-25 at 18:04, but Lynchburg answered with a 12-4 run to lead 49-29 with 14:23 remaining—Easton (8) and Brown (4) again doing the damage. The Tigers again battled back and were within 49-37 after a three-pointer by senior guard Davis Cauble (Richmond) at 11:11, and it was still a 12-point deficit at 59-47 with 5:59 left following two free throws from Bizzelle. Back-to-back three-pointers by Brown had the Hornets ahead 65-48 at 4:59, but the Garnet & Grey made a final push and closed to within 67-62 with 1:36 remaining … the 14-2 run led by Bizzelle and Moye each with three-pointers, a steal and layup by Stickney and an old-fashioned three-point play by Cauble from an offensive rebound basket. Lynchburg, though, closed with a jumper along with 8-8 free throws, including 4-4 by Brown, while Moye added another three-pointer and senior guard/forward Kolby Wright (Cookeville, TN) added a late offensive rebound basket to provide for the final margin.

Bizzelle led H-SC with his career-high 22 points, including three three-pointers. Moye and Stickney each finished with their respective 13 points for the Tigers, with Stickney adding eight rebounds and game-highs of four assists and three steals, and Moye (3-7 3FGs) adding five rebounds. H-SC shot 32% (21-65) from the field, including 29% (8-28) on three-pointers, and 77% (17-22) at the free throw line.

Brown led Lynchburg with his game-high 30 points, including 12-16 field goals (2-4 3FGs) and 4-5 free throws, adding seven rebounds. Easton finished with 24 points for the Hornets, including 5-9 three-pointers and 5-7 free throws, along with six rebounds and a game-high three steals. Jesse Mitchell had 11 points and game-highs of nine rebounds and four assists. Lynchburg shot 50% (28-56) from the field, including 42% (10-24) on three-pointers, and 73% (11-15) at the line.

H-SC plays its final road game of the regular season at ODAC member Guilford College on Saturday, February 14, at 2 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina.