LEXINGTON, VA --- In the ODAC, you simply protect your home court and try to steal a few wins on the road. The Runnin Royals picked up a solid road win Wednesday, out-scoring host Washington and Lee 45-35 in the second half to earn an 80-74 victory. Eastern Mennonite's men are now 9-7 overall and 4-3 in the ODAC, riding a season-best three-game winning streak.
EMU scored first and led by as many as 11 points when RJ Sims (Fort Washington, Md./Friendly) drilled a three pointer to make it 21-10 just 8:03 into the game. With the bucket, Sims also joined the 1,000-point club, becoming the 21st Royal in program history to cross the plateau.
A quick 8-1 run and W&L was back in the contest. The Generals eventually took a 39-35 lead into the locker rooms.
James Williams (Capitol Heights, Md./Archbishop Carroll) opened the second half with a three ball. After a layup from the home team, Sims went on a personal 7-0 run to surge EMU back in front, 45-41. Washington and Lee would tie the game a handful of times, but would never lead again.
The Royals had their biggest lead at 60-48 before giving up a 12-0 run. The men regrouped and rebuilt a 73-65 cushion with 3:12 to play. W&L sliced back to within three points, but Marcel Crump (Richmond, Va./Highland Springs) made two huge steals in the final 21 seconds to help ice the 80-74 decision.
Eastern Mennonite shot 52.7% from the floor, their third-best mark of the season. The Generals shot 44.6%, in what turned out to be the biggest statistical difference between the two teams. EMU did have a slight rebounding advantage, 34-29.
Sims finished with a season high 23 points to go with three assists. He hit 4-of-8 three pointers. Sims has now scored 1,021 points in his career.
Crump was just as deadly in the game, finishing with 23 points, four steals and three assists. David Falk (Madison, Va./Madison) registered another double double with 13 rebounds and 10 points. He also blocked three shots. Woody Furbush (Bridgeton, N.J./Salem) added 11 points and five rebounds.
Andrew Franz led Washington and Lee with 21 points and eight rebounds. Drew Kimberly had 17 points.
The Royals have a big test at home this Saturday, hosting Guilford at 4:00pm in Yoder Arena. The game immediately follows a contest between the women's teams from the two schools, which starts at 2:00pm.