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During a weekend where Adam Brazil moved into the Top 10 in Hampden-Sydney history in multiple categories, the Tigers also punched their ticket to the NCAA Division III Sweet 16. On Saturday night, the team held off a run by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and picked up the 81-75 win to advance. 

Before we break down how the team did, let’s focus on Brazil for a minute. On Saturday, the fifth-year guard scored a game-high 25 points, with a game-high seven assists and six rebounds. After that performance, he moved into ninth place in program history with 1,568 points in 121 career games. The 5’10 ft. Brazil is now fifth in Hampden-Sydney history with 385 career assists and 10th overall in career steals with 149. He is also the only Tiger in the 115-year history of the program ranked among the school’s Top 10 in career points, assists, steals and three-pointers. And finally, Brazil has been named as one of the 15 Trevor Hudgins Award semi-finalists, an award given each year to the senior who had the best career within small college basketball. 

Now Brazil and his teammates are headed to the Sweet 16 for the second straight year. That means going on the road March 14 and 15. The team knows they’ll play No. 15 University of Redlands (CA) on Friday, March 14. Redlands will come into the game with a record of 24-4 on the season. What they don’t know yet is where that game will take place. 

Breaking down Saturday’s game

So how did Hampden-Sydney earn a Sweet 16 spot? Through a hard-fought game Saturday, played in front of a very loud, very vocal home crowd at Kirby Field House. In addition to Brazil, junior forward Shane Fernald had 14 points and five rebounds, while freshman guard Peter Moye finished with nine points off the bench. 

“What a battle tonight,” said Tigers Head Coach Caleb Kimbrough. “That’s not an easy team to play on a back-to-back and the guys answered the call. I thought we stayed together and we got to the next play quickly even when we made mistakes. This team is growing up overnight. Very excited that we get to continue the journey with this team.”

Hampden-Sydney and UPB played evenly to start with the Tigers leading 8-7 at 16:13 after a layup by Fernald who scored four early points. The Garnet & Grey still led 15-14 at 12:27 following a basket inside by freshman forward John Campbell off the bench, assisted by Brazil. The Panthers used a quick 9-2 run to lead 23-17 with 9:07 on the clock, and they were ahead 27-22 at the 7:00 mark after a three-pointer by Salters. UPB still led 36-31 at 4:28, before H-SC battled back with a half-ending 11-2 run to lead 42-38 at the intermission-getting four points from Brazil to start the run, another basket down low by Fernald, a three-pointer from Moye and an offensive rebound basket by freshman guard Travis Stickney.

H-SC continued its momentum to begin the second half, outscoring UPB 20-12 to take its largest lead of the night at 62-50 with 11:49 remaining. Six different Tigers contributed, including five points from Brazil, four points each by senior guard Nick Shryock and Stickney, three points from Campbell and two points each from Fernald and Moye. The Panthers, however, once-again rallied back and tied it at 64-64 with 8:17 on the clock, getting a pair of three-pointers each from Salters and Jeremy Rodriguez.

H-SC responded with a quick 10-4 run to lead 74-68 at 4:17, as Moye connected on a three-pointer, followed by consecutive baskets from Brazil and another three-pointer, this time by senior guard Ayman McGowan. UPB could only get to within three points twice late, but the Garnet & Grey were able to maintain the advantage as Brazil scored on a layup at 3:34 (76-71) and Fernald scored down low at 2:34 (78-73), while Campbell, Brazil and Moye each went 1-2 at the free throw line over the final minute to provide for the final margin of victory.

Hampden-Sydney postgame notes

H-SC is enjoying its 17th NCAA Tournament appearance since 1989, and has now won at least one NCAA Tournament game in 14 of the 17 years, while compiling an overall NCAA Tournament record of 27-17. The Tigers have now advanced to the Sweet 16 five times, including in 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2024, and have now hosted 24 NCAA Tournament games since 1992, compiling an impressive record of 19-5.