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The wins keep coming and the player leading the way is a familiar one. Adam Brazil poured in 24 points Saturday to lead the No. 8 Hampden-Sydney Tigers to a 78-67 win over visiting Ferrum College. 

Playing in front of a loud Kirby Field House crowd, Brazil went 7 for 7 at the free throw line, adding four assists and two steals. Junior forward and team captain Shane Fernald finished with a double-double of 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds, while junior transfer guard and team captain Colin Radcliffe added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. 

The Tigers led 35-26 at halftime, and led by as many as 15 points in the second half, while maintaining a double-digit lead for a majority of the half toward their fourth consecutive win. Hampden-Sydney improved to 15-3 overall, 8-1 in the ODAC, while FC dropped to 12-6 overall, 4-5 in the ODAC-led by Marcus Willis Jr. with 13 points off the bench.

“It was great to be back in Kirby today,” said sixth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. “Thank you to everyone who came out and supported. Outside of a handful of turnovers, I thought we did some good things against a talented Ferrum team. We still haven’t seen the best out of this Tigers’ team, which is pretty exciting! Hope to see everyone back in Kirby on Wednesday for another big ODAC match-up.”

Breaking down the game

The Hampden-Sydney Tigers, ranked No. 8 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, fell behind early as FC scored the first eight points of the contest with three-point field goals by Zavier Measmer and Sterling Charles Jr. The Tigers got on the scoreboard with a basket inside from Fernald at 17:17, but the Panthers still led 14-8 with 12:54 on the first-half clock after another three-pointer by Measmer.

The Garnet & Grey, however, used a quick 16-2 run to lead 24-16 at 7:09, getting three-straight three-pointers from senior guard Ayman McGowan, Radcliffe and Brazil … along with two free throws by sophomore center Alex Cannon, a jumper from Brazil, a free throw by Fernald and two free throws from freshman guard Travis Stickney. Hampden-Sydney extended the run to 27-7 for its largest lead of the half at 35-21 with just 2:53 on the clock, and led 35-26 at halftime-Brazil finishing the opening 20 minutes with 12 points and Fernald grabbing eight first-half rebounds.

Hampden-Sydney extended the advantage to 42-28 just 2:08 into the second half with a three-pointer from senior guard Nick Shryock, a basket down low by Fernald and a driving layup from Brazil. FC responded with nine unanswered points to get within 42-37 at 16:11, and were within 45-39 at 14:46 after two free throws by Alfredo Abel-Rivera. The Tigers, however, took control with a 23-14 run for their largest lead of the day at 68-53 with 6:01 remaining-getting points from five different players, including seven by Fernald, six by Radcliffe, four each from Brazil and freshman guard Peter Moye and two from Cannon. The Garnet & Grey maintained the comfortable margin to the end as the Panthers were only able to reduce the deficit to nine points twice over the final minute.

Hampden-Sydney Tigers stay home on Wednesday

Hamden-Sydney shot 48% (28-58) from the field, including 32% (6-19) on three-pointers, and 80% (16-20) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 36-22 advantage in points scored in the paint, and a 20-14 advantage in second chance points with 16 offensive rebounds while out-rebounding the visitors 44-27.

Willis led FC with his 13 points off the bench, adding three assists and three steals. Measmer and Abel-Rivera each added 12 points for the Panthers with Measmer making 4-9 three-pointers and Abel-Rivera adding seven rebounds. Charles finished with 10 points and Charles Tart III had nine points, three assists and a game-high four steals. FC shot 38% (23-61) from the field, including 36% (9-25) on three-pointers, and 63% (12-19) at the line.

H-SC remains home to welcome ODAC member Averett University on Wednesday night, January 29, at 7 p.m. in Fleet Gym. It will be “80s Night” promoted by the Roundball Club and “Girls Night Out” with the Longwood Sororities. As a reminder, it’s free admission for all regular season home athletic contests at the College.