Feb 02, 2011
LYNCHBURG, VA. -- Even a 19-point lead is not safe in the ODAC. Eastern Mennonite led by 19 as late as 9:40 left in the game, but Lynchburg staged an 18-6 run to get back with seven points with three minutes to go. With the threat to their lead, the Runnin Royals made 9 of their next 10 free throw attempts to seal the win on the road, 88-79.
The men showed from the opening tip that their offense was ready to go, as Eli Crawford (Staunton, Va./R.E. Lee) put in a layup just three seconds into the game.
The Hornets took their only lead of the night at 12-11, but EMU responded with a 15-3 run to go back up 26-15.
At halftime, the Royals led 42-33.
Lynchburg got within six before a 13-2 burst shot the lead back up to 59-42. A handful of EMU turnovers let the home team trim the edge to 77-70 before the Runnin Royals slowed down and sealed things at the free throw line.
Fouls dictated the tempo in the second half, as EMU made only 10 field goals in the final 20 minutes. They Royals shot the ball just 19 times, however, but were living at the free throw line where they went 23-30 in the second. The men finished 32-40 for the game. Lynchburg, on the other hand, was 12-18 from the stripe.
The other difference was three-point shooting. EMU finished 8-18 for 44% while the Hornets were 7-21 for 33%.
George Johnson (Richmond, Va./Miller School) set his season high with 29 points. He was 4-for-6 from long range and tied a school record by going a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line.
Johnson's fete was the fourth time in EMU history that a player has been perfect from the stripe with 10 or more attempts. The senior guard also did it last year, making 16 attempts in a game at Randolph. Joel Kauffman and Korey Whiting have each gone 12-12.
Todd Phillips (Waynebsoro, Va./Waynesboro) went 9-18 from the floor and finished with 22 points.
Orie Pancione (Augusta, WV/Hampshire) was good for nine rebounds and eight points. Crawford finished with five assists.
Brandon Connor led Lynchburg with 17 points, although he was just 5-13 from the floor. Nate Campbell had 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The win ups EMU's record to 15-4 overall and 6-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. LC falls to 9-12 and 4-8.
The Runnin Royals next host Randolph this Saturday at 7:00pm. The game is part of a doubleheader at EMU, following the women's game against Roanoke, which starts at 4:00pm. The men will be trying to avenge a 64-61 loss earlier this year against the WildCats, who are 14-5 and 8-3.
The men showed from the opening tip that their offense was ready to go, as Eli Crawford (Staunton, Va./R.E. Lee) put in a layup just three seconds into the game.
The Hornets took their only lead of the night at 12-11, but EMU responded with a 15-3 run to go back up 26-15.
At halftime, the Royals led 42-33.
Lynchburg got within six before a 13-2 burst shot the lead back up to 59-42. A handful of EMU turnovers let the home team trim the edge to 77-70 before the Runnin Royals slowed down and sealed things at the free throw line.
Fouls dictated the tempo in the second half, as EMU made only 10 field goals in the final 20 minutes. They Royals shot the ball just 19 times, however, but were living at the free throw line where they went 23-30 in the second. The men finished 32-40 for the game. Lynchburg, on the other hand, was 12-18 from the stripe.
The other difference was three-point shooting. EMU finished 8-18 for 44% while the Hornets were 7-21 for 33%.
George Johnson (Richmond, Va./Miller School) set his season high with 29 points. He was 4-for-6 from long range and tied a school record by going a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line.
Johnson's fete was the fourth time in EMU history that a player has been perfect from the stripe with 10 or more attempts. The senior guard also did it last year, making 16 attempts in a game at Randolph. Joel Kauffman and Korey Whiting have each gone 12-12.
Todd Phillips (Waynebsoro, Va./Waynesboro) went 9-18 from the floor and finished with 22 points.
Orie Pancione (Augusta, WV/Hampshire) was good for nine rebounds and eight points. Crawford finished with five assists.
Brandon Connor led Lynchburg with 17 points, although he was just 5-13 from the floor. Nate Campbell had 16 points and 14 rebounds.
The win ups EMU's record to 15-4 overall and 6-4 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. LC falls to 9-12 and 4-8.
The Runnin Royals next host Randolph this Saturday at 7:00pm. The game is part of a doubleheader at EMU, following the women's game against Roanoke, which starts at 4:00pm. The men will be trying to avenge a 64-61 loss earlier this year against the WildCats, who are 14-5 and 8-3.