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Ryan Clements had a night on Saturday. The fifth-year player scored 16 points for Hampden-Sydney, including going 4-4 in free throws over the final 21 seconds to lead the Tigers to a 64-58 home win against Salisbury (MD) University. 

Clements’ teammate Davidson Hubbard added 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the No. 6 ranked Tigers, playing for the last time in 2023 at Kirby Field House. The Tigers won their fifth-straight game and improved to 10-1 overall, playing in front of a crowd of 602. The visiting Sea Gulls dropped to 8-6 overall. 

“Found a way to get it done today coming off of break,” said Tigers head coach Caleb Kimbrough. “We didn’t make shots that usually fall for us, but our defense and rebounding carried us through as it always does. Really loved seeing so many members of the community in attendance!”

Hampden-Sydney used an 18-2 run to take a 23-7 advantage midway through the opening half with 10:16 on the clock. Tied at 5-5 just 3:41 into the contest, Hubbard connected on a three-point field goal to jump-start the outburst. It also included three-pointers by freshman Blake Wilson and junior Ayman McGowan -both off the bench and both assisted by fifth-year Chase Turner -along with baskets from Wilson, team captain Miles Harris, Turner and Hubbard … a free throw by Clements closing the run. The Tigers led 26-11 after a three-pointer by senior team captain Adam Brazil, again assisted by Turner, and the Garnet & Grey maintained a 31-18 advantage at halftime after another three-pointer by Brazil and a closing layup from sophomore Shane Fernald.

Continuing to build momentum

Hampden-Sydney continued its momentum to begin the second half and led 36-20 at 15:44 following two free throws by Clements and a three-pointer from Harris. The Tigers maintained their double-figure margin, leading 38-25 after a layup by Wilson at 14:17 … 41-28 following a three-pointer from Turner at 12:43 … 43-30 after a slam dunk by Clements at 12:10 … and 45-32 following a layup from Harris at 10:45.

SU, however, put together a 15-8 run with a trio of three-pointers to close to within 53-47 with 4:17 left to play. H-SC responded with a conventional three-point play by Clements to lead 58-47 at the two-minute mark, but the Sea Gulls connected on three more triples and it was a four-point contest at 60-56 with 35-seconds remaining. Clements, however, made 4-4 free throws to secure the victory, the fifth-straight for the Tigers.

Clements led H-SC with his 16 points, including 8-9 free throws, adding five rebounds. Hubbard finished with his 12 points and game-high 10 rebounds for the Tigers, his third double-double of the season and 20th of his career. Brazil contributed eight points, five rebounds and three assists. Harris and Wilson each had seven points off the bench, a career-high for Wilson, while Harris added a career-high nine rebounds, as well as two blocks. Fernald finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists, and Turner finished with five points, five rebounds and a game-high-and career-high-seven assists. H-SC shot 35% (24-69) from the field, including 33% (8-24) on three-pointers, and 67% (8-12) at the free throw line.

Up next for the Tigers

Hampden-Sydney will play on the road and return to Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) action at Ferrum College next week on Wednesday night, January 3, at 7 p.m. in Franklin County.