HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) had a season-high 16 points, fifth-year Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) added a season-high 14 points and sophomore Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) came off the bench for career-highs of 13 points and eight rebounds, to lead nationally-ranked No. 2 Hampden-Sydney College to an 88-60 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) home win past Averett University on Wednesday night in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. The unbeaten Tigers (5-0, 1-0 ODAC) led 39-26 at halftime and by as many as 32 points in the second half against the visiting Cougars (1-6, 0-2 ODAC), who were led by Jordan Lewis with a game-high 20 points.
 
"All ODAC wins are big wins!" said fifth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "Good to get back on the floor after the break and we are excited to get better from this one. We had a few guys step-up and play big minutes tonight and that's what makes us so dangerous. This is a selfless team that can beat you in a lot of ways."

H-SC scored the first points of the game and essentially never looked back against AU, jumping out to an early 9-3 advantage just 2:21 into the contest—getting an opening layup from Clements, a three-point field goal and layup by Elliott and a pair of free throws from senior Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC). The Cougars managed to close to within 17-12 at 11:16, but the Tigers used a quick 14-4 run to push the margin to 31-16 with 6:32 on the first-half clock. Junior Ayman McGowan (Memphis, TN) got it started with back-to-back three-pointers off the bench, Fernald scored inside, Elliott added a pair of baskets in the paint and Clements capped it off with a steal and slam dunk. H-SC took its largest lead of the first half at 37-19 with 3:34 on the clock after two free throws by senior DJ Wright (Greensboro, GA), also off the bench, and the Garnet & Grey led 39-26 at the intermission behind 11 first-half points from Elliott.

H-SC extended the advantage to 56-37 early in the second half at 14:33 following a three-pointer by Wright, as the home team got points from six different players, including three-pointers from Hubbard and McGowan, along with a conventional three-point play by Clements. The Tigers led 60-40 at 12:16 after a basket inside from Fernald, 68-44 at 9:36 following a layup by Elliott, 73-47 at 7:52 after a three-pointer from Elliott, 79-54 at 4:48 following a three-pointer by freshman Blake Wilson (Charlottesville) and had their largest lead of the night at 86-54 with 2:33 remaining after a three-pointer from Wright … toward the final 28-point margin of victory and leading for 39-plus minutes.

Elliott led H-SC with his season-high 16 points, adding five rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes. Clements finished with his season-high 14 points for the Tigers, adding three assists and two steals in 16 minutes. Fernald contributed his career-highs of 13 points, (game-high) eight rebounds and two blocks in 16 minutes off the bench. Wright and McGowan each had nine points off the bench, while senior team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) added a game-high eight assists and fifth-year team captain Miles Harris (Virginia Beach) added a game-high eight rebounds (off the bench). H-SC shot 53% (35-66) from the field, including 40% (8-20) on three-pointers, and 56% (10-18) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 47-18 advantage in bench scoring, a 46-22 advantage in points scored in the paint and a 29-6 advantage in points off turnovers—forcing 18 miscues, while scoring a season-high 88 points in the contest.

Lewis led AU with his game-high 20 points, adding seven rebounds. The Cougars shot 48% (21-44) from the field, including 42% (5-12) on three-pointers, and 57% (13-23) at the line.

H-SC will continue early-season ODAC action on the road at nationally-ranked No. 11 Guilford (NC) College on Saturday afternoon, December 2, at 4:30 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina.