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Wednesday was an Adam Brazil kind of night. The fifth-year guard and team captain scored a game-high 31 points, including going 13 for 13 on free throws. That helped No. 12 Hampden-Sydney College beat Roanoke College 85-80 in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. Junior forward and team captain Shane Fernald added a career-high 21 points, along with a game-high seven rebounds for the Tigers, who led 42-35 at halftime and improved to 5-1 overall, including 1-0 in the ODAC. Joshua McClary also had a game-high 31 points, including 8-10 three-point field goals, for the visiting Maroons, who dropped to 5-2 overall, 2-1 in the ODAC.

“That was a battle tonight,” said Hampden-Sydney head coach Caleb Kimbrough. “Very important to protect home court in ODAC play and I’m proud of the guys for finding a way to do just that tonight. This team is getting better each day. We had a lot of guys step-up and make big plays at key moments tonight. Great team win”

H-SC, ranked No. 12 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, and RC, receiving votes in the poll, played close throughout the contest with 15 lead changes and 11 ties during the 40 minutes. The Tigers, however, did maintain an advantage for a majority of the contest with the lead for 26-plus minutes. The Maroons led for just eight-plus minutes on the night, and took their largest lead early at 10-5 just 2:46 in, and the visitors led 18-13 at 10:48. 

More from the game

The Garnet & Grey, however, put together a quick 12-1 run to lead 25-19 with 8:04 on the clock, getting an old-fashioned three-point play down low from Fernald, who followed with a three-pointer out top, before Brazil sandwiched a pair of jumpers around two free throws by junior transfer guard and team captain Colin Radcliffe. It was tied at 25-25 at 6:23, but the hosts used a 13-5 run to lead 38-30 at 1:51 following an offensive rebound basket from sophomore center Alex Cannon. Brazil had nine of the points, including 7-7 free throws, while Cannon added another basket inside. The Tigers had their largest lead of the contest at 42-33 with just under a minute left in the half toward the 42-35 halftime margin.

RC outscored H-SC 13-6 to begin the second half to tie the contest at 48-48 with 16:19 remaining, getting a pair of three-pointers from McClary. Brazil answered with his own three-pointer at 15:34, and freshman Tugg Bizzelle added a three-pointer at 14:08 for a 54-51 advantage. Fernald scored down low for a 58-55 lead at 11:24, but McClary tied it at 58-58 with another three-pointer and the Maroons led 60-58 with 10:38 left to play. It remained close for several minutes with H-SC leading 70-67 at 6:39 after another basket inside from Fernald. Two more three-pointers by McClary helped RC to a 75-73 advantage at 4:18, but nine unanswered points by the Tigers, including seven by Brazil, had the home team in control and ahead 82-75 with just 1:34 left to play. McClary added a layup and his final three-pointer, before the Garnet & Grey secured the outcome with a pair of free throws from Brazil with 37-seconds on the clock, and 1-2 by junior transfer guard Hamilton Campbell with 11.4-seconds to provide for the final margin.

Adam Brazil leads in points

Brazil led H-SC with his game-high 31 points, making 8-19 field goals (2-6 3FGs), while a perfect 13-13 on free throws, adding four assists, two rebounds and two steals. Fernald finished with his career-high 21 points for the Tigers, making 9-12 field goals (1-3 3FGs) and 2-3 free throws, adding a game-high seven rebounds along with three assists and one steal. Bizzelle had six points (2-3 3FGs) and two steals, while Campbell and senior guard Ayman McGowan each had five points with Campbell added a game-high seven rebounds and four assists. H-SC shot 50% (29-58) from the field, including 32% (6-19) on three-pointers, and 72% (21-29) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 21-9 advantage in second chance points, a 21-13 advantage in bench points and a 15-10 advantage in points scored off turnovers.

What’s next? 

H-SC will play on the road at ODAC member and archrival (RV)Randolph-Macon College on Saturday night, December 7, at 7 p.m. in Ashland.