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Nasty weather didn’t keep people from showing up Saturday afternoon and those who did witnessed a show. The No. 1 ranked Hampden-Sydney Tigers started off slow, but clawed their way to a 72-67 win over Washington and Lee University. 

Senior captain Adam Brazil scored 17 points, with Davidson Hubbard adding 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds as the Tigers stay undefeated this season at Kirby Field House. Fifth-year Ryan Clements finished with nine points and six rebounds as the host Tigers won their seventh-straight game and improved to 12-1 overall, 4-1 in the ODAC. The visiting Generals, who led 21-7 early and 36-33 at halftime, dropped to 8-5 overall, 2-2 in the ODAC-led by Robert DiSibio with a game-high 19 points.

“Hard-fought game today,” said Tigers Head Coach Caleb Kimbrough. “We had so many guys step-up to help the team in different ways. That’s a team that can really score the basketball, and once we settled in, I thought we did a good job defensively.”

Breaking down the game

Hampden-Sydney fell behind early, trailing 9-2 just 2:40 into the contest. The Tigers were within 9-5 at 16:32 after a three-point field goal by fifth-year team captain Miles Harris, off the bench, but the Generals used a 12-2 run to take their largest lead of the half and contest at 21-7 with 12:09 on the clock-getting a trio of three-pointers. The Garnet & Grey began clawing back with a 15-3 run to close to within 24-22 at 6:12 following a three-pointer by Brazil, who scored eight of the points, while Hubbard added five and junior Nick Shryock scored his first points of the season in his first action of the year. W&L pushed the margin back to six points late in the half before the home team was able to make it a three-point game at the break with a three-pointer by Hubbard-the visitors leading 36-33 at the intermission.

H-SC began the second half on a quick 9-3 run to take its first lead of the day at 42-38 with 17:31 remaining, as Brazil scored five points, including a three-pointer, while Hubbard and senior Alex Elliott each scored inside. The Tigers would maintain their advantage for the remainder of the contest, though it was close throughout the second half, as W&L was within a point on a couple of occasions-the last at 49-48 with 12:02 on the clock.

The Garnet & Grey took their largest lead at 57-50 following a pair of free throws by Clements at 8:11, and the home team led 59-53 after two free throws by Hubbard with 5:57 left to play. The Generals were within 61-59 at 4:13 after a three-pointer by DiSibio, but back-to-back layups by Clements and senior team captain Josiah Hardy made it 65-59 at 1:59. Another layup from Hardy pushed the lead to 67-60 with just under a minute remaining, and it was 70-64 after a free throw by Clements with 12-seconds on the clock. A late three-pointer had the visitors within 70-67, before Clements secured the outcome with two free throws to provide for the final margin of victory.

Hampden-Sydney by the numbers

Brazil led H-SC with his 17 points, including 3-9 three-pointers, adding two assists and two steals. Hubbard finished with his 16 points and game-high eight rebounds for the Tigers, adding two assists. Clements contributed nine points, including 7-10 free throws, along with six rebounds and two assists.

Harris had eight points and a game-high three steals, the latter equaling his career-high. Hardy and Elliott each added seven points, with Hardy adding seven rebounds, and Elliott adding five rebounds. H-SC shot 36% (25-69) from the field, including 32% (7-22) on three-pointers, and 71% (15-21) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 21-5 advantage in second chance points with 16 offensive rebounds, and had a 23-11 advantage in points scored from turnovers-forcing 24 miscues.

DiSibio, the ODAC’s leading scorer entering the contest at 24.0 points per game, led W&L with his game-high 19 points-adding six rebounds and four assists. d’Entremont, averaging 18.1, added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Generals. Drew Harrell contributed 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds. W&L shot 44% (22-49) from the field, including 50% (10-20) on three-pointers, and 68% (13-19) at the line.

What’s next for Hampden-Sydney?

Hampden-Sydney will play on the road next week at ODAC opponent Bridgewater College on Wednesday, January 10, at 5 p.m.-please note the early start time.