Buena Vista, Va. – Senior JC Hoellich registered his first double-double of the year in a Tuesday night win over CAC foe Southern Virginia, 65-60. The Saints remain perfect with the victory, improving to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in league play.
Hoellich collected 16 points and 13 rebounds, while classmate Jesse Konadu paced the offense with his game-high 20 points.
The largest lead Southern Virginia held over the Saints was an insignificant three points – an unsustainable advantage that had disappeared by the 16:48 mark.
A Konadu three-pointer tied the game, while the senior's ensuing layup gave Marymount its first lead, 9-7. The squads would continue to squabble, tossing the lead back and forth, until the Saints burst for a quick 9-0 run to snatch an 18-12 advantage with 11:10 remaining in the opening half.
The remaining first frame ticks saw a pattern unfold – Southern Virginia would chip away and close the gap, and then, as soon as the host got within arm's length, the Saints would voraciously rebuild their lead.
Marymount saw its biggest lead register with only 10 seconds left in the first half, 37-24, before a three-point buzzer beater closed the Knights' deficit to a clean ten points at the break.
Unlike the first half, it took almost two minutes for either team to find the net in the second frame. The host came out with a vengeance of sorts – using a 10-2 run to close the Saints' lead to a paper-thin 42-39.
It was at the 9:28 mark that Southern Virginia actually retook its initial lead, 48-47, though it proved rather short-lived.
A pair of free throws from Michael Anderson knotted the game at 51-51, while his ensuing layup just moments later put the Saints on top for good.
The Knights did fight back for a brief 60-60 stalemate with 2:35 remaining, but the host's scoring efforts proved exhausted.
Marymount's final run of the day proved its most vital, as the 5-0 rally secured the Saints' first CAC win of the season.
Marymount returns to Arlington, Va., on Sunday as it hosts Shenandoah. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.