For immediate release – 1/6/2014 - #168
Hornet Men Race to 97-79 Victory over VUL

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg College men's basketball team utilized a 28-8 first-half run to race past Virginia University of Lynchburg, 97-79, Monday night in non-conference action.

The game started out as a back-and-forth battle which featured four ties in the first 10 minutes of action. The athleticism of the Dragons was on display early as the visitors, trailing 8-7, rode layups from Lay McPhaul and Irving Cato and a Jan Zornjan jumper to assume the 13-8 lead. It would be the Dragons' largest lead of the game.

The Hornets chipped away at the lead, tying it up at 15, 17, and 19-all before pulling away.

Manny Hernandez gave Lynchburg the lead for good when his layup at 9:47 netted the Hornets the 21-19 lead. Gary Boone II connected on a pair of free throws to extend the lead to four, but a Dennis Gravely layup closed the gap to 23-21.

Hernandez was fouled on a three during the Hornets' next possession. He converted on the free throw attempt for the rare feat of the four-point play. The Hornets scored the next six points to pull ahead, 33-21. The run continued as LC outscored the visitors 14-6 the remainder of the first half to take a 47-27 lead into the break.

Hernandez had nine points during the 28-8 run, finishing with a game-high 23 to go with four rebounds. Harry West added seven points during the burst, ending with 10 points and five assists.

Daniel Rowe had 12 points while Omar Kemp posted career-highs with 12 points and nine boards.

Gravely finished with 18 points for the Dragons, while Zornjan added 15. McPhaul ended with 14 points and seven rebounds as Linas Janenas added nine points, all in the second half.

Lynchburg (9-3/2-1) resumes Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play Saturday as the Hornets host Randolph-Macon College (7-4/1-1) at 2 p.m.