For immediate release – 1/2/2012 - #203
LC Men Outlast Bridgewater, Collect First Conference Win 70-65

LYNCHBURG, VA – Lynchburg College men's basketball faced an athletic Bridgewater College team Wednesday night, outlasting the Eagles late for a 70-65 win in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play.

The Hornets started quick out of the gate, taking a nine point advantage with 8:32 left in the first half before Bridgewater started cutting the lead. The Eagles took their first lead of the half with 36 seconds remaining but a buzzer-beating tip-in by freshman Alex Graves gave the Hornets the lead, 35-34, at half.

Bridgewater would take the lead again early in the second half on a layup by Matthew Hunter, but LC would pull away with a 9-0 run.

Junior Xavier Parham nailed a three pointer to give LC the two point advantage, 40-38, with 17:21 left in the second half. A quick steal and foul sent junior Manny Hernandez to the line where he knocked down a pair. A tip-in by senior Austin Chillemi and a Parham layup gave Lynchburg the 46-38 lead.

The Hornets took their largest lead, 66-54, with just over two minutes remaining before Bridgewater made a final run. The Eagles cut it to three points with 37 seconds left, but would get no closer.

Chillemi collected his second double-double of the season for Lynchburg (10-2/1-2 ODAC), leading the way with 16 points and ten rebounds. Hernandez and Graves had 13 and 11 points respectively. Parham had seven points and six steals. Senior Brandan Connor had seven points and five steals.

Ed Reddick led the Eagles (7-5/1-2 ODAC) with 16 points.