For immediate release – 12/29/2013 - #162
Defense Leads Hornets to 77-64 Victory over Baruch

FARMVILLE, VA—Defensive pressure led the way as the Lynchburg College men's basketball team captured a 77-64 victory over Baruch College in the first round of the Luck Stone Holiday Classic on Sunday.

Although the Bearcats kept it close, shooting 40.7% from the field, the Hornets forced the opposition into 22 turnovers.

Baruch took an early 11-3 lead five minutes into the game before Lynchburg closed the gap. The Bearcats held a 28-27 halftime advantage.

Lynchburg took control in the second half due in part to a 60% shooting performance. Eight Hornets scored in the final 20 minutes, making for a difficult offense to defend.

The Hornets went on an 8-2 run to start the second half, assuming their largest lead up to that point, 35-30, with 17:17 remaining. The Bearcats tied it up two times in the second half, at 35-35 and 40-40, but Lynchburg led the final 13:51.

After contributing 10 points in the first half, Manny Hernandez had eight in the second. Daniel Rowe and Alex Graves led the way with 10 points each in the final session.

Hernandez had a game-high nine rebounds to go with his 18 points while the Hornets got 14 points from Graves and 12 from Rowe. Lyndon White and Harry West had three assists each while Austen Arnold collected three steals.

Raymond De La Cruz had 18 points for Baruch while Joshua Vital and Matas Rascius added 13 and 12 respectively. Vital led the Bearcats (6-4) with seven rebounds while Edward Roscigno contributed four assists.

Lynchburg (7-2) will finish play at the Luck Stone Holiday Classic on Monday as the Hornets take on Washington & Jefferson College (6-3) at 2 p.m.