HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Fifth-year Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) scored a game-high 13 points, adding five rebounds and five assists, and sophomore Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) added 12 points (6-6 FGs) off the bench, to lead nationally-ranked No. 1 Hampden-Sydney College to a 72-51 home win past (RV)Farmingdale State (NY) College in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship on Saturday night at S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium in Kirby Field House. Senior Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) finished with 10 points and six rebounds for the Tigers, who took control with 15 unanswered points while closing the first half on a 40-9 run to lead 49-20 at halftime—improving to 28-2 overall. The Rams complete their season with a final record of 27-3 and were led by Nick Hurowitz with a game-high 13 points, adding nine rebounds. H-SC advances to the Sectionals (Sweet 16) of the NCAA Tournament next weekend, March 8-9, and will play Rowan (NJ) University (21-7) on Friday, March 8 … complete details with location and time will be announced by the NCAA on Sunday (March 3).

"The guys won the moment tonight," said fifth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "This group is playing some good ball right now. We aren't done yet. Still dancing!"

H-SC scored the opening basket of the contest when senior team captain Josiah Hardy (Ashburn) scored on a floater in the lane at 19:35, assisted by Clements and much to the delight of the near capacity crowd of 975. FSC took an 11-9 advantage with 11:43 on the first-half clock, before the Tigers erupted for 15 unanswered points to lead 24-11 at 7:35 after a slam dunk by Fernald off a pretty inbound pass from Clements. Senior Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) started the outburst with a three-point field goal followed by 1-2 free throws, before Clements added his second three-pointer of the contest along with a slam dunk of his own in traffic, an offensive rebound basket by Elliott and a step-back jumper by Hubbard ahead of Fernald's big boy dunk. The Rams were within 27-16 with 5:16 left in the half, before the Garnet & Grey outscored their guests 22-4 to lead 49-20 at halftime. Six different Tigers scored down the stretch of the half, including Fernald (6) Hubbard (4), Hardy (4) senior team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) (3), freshman Blake Wilson (Charlottesville) (3) (off the bench) and Elliott (2)—Wilson's triple ending the half.

H-SC maintained the comfortable margin in the second half, leading 53-24 at 15:41 after an offensive rebound basket by fifth-year team captain Miles Harris (Virginia Beach), 57-29 at 13:21 following a basket inside from junior Nick Shryock (Davidson, NC) (off the bench), 64-37 at 9:51 after another offensive rebound basket, this time by Brazil, and a pair of free throws from Clements made it 68-44 at 4:29. For the second-straight night, Coach Kimbrough was able to play deep into his bench over the closing minutes of the contest with Harris and Wilson finishing the scoring with a pair of free throws each over the final 1:43 toward the final margin of victory.

Clements led H-SC with his game-high 13 points, adding his five rebounds and five assists. Fernald finished with his 12 points (6-6 FGs) off the bench for the Tigers, adding three assists. Hubbard contributed his 10 points and six rebounds. Brazil, Elliott and Hardy each had eight points, with Brazil adding seven rebounds and a game-high seven assists, Elliott adding a game-high and career-high 11 rebounds and Hardy adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals. H-SC shot 40% (27-67) from the field, including just 17% (5-30) on three-pointers, and 77% (13-17) at the free throw line. The Garnet & Grey enjoyed a 38-14 advantage in points scored in the paint, a 25-13 advantage in bench points, and a 17-7 advantage in second chance points … out-rebounding the Rams 54-35, including 18 offensive rebounds.

Hurowitz led FSC with his game-high 13 points, adding his nine rebounds. Aaron Davis had 11 points and four rebounds for the Rams. FSC shot 29% (18-63) from the field, including only 21% (6-28) on three-pointers, and 69% (9-13) at the line.

Rowan advanced to the Sectionals with wins this weekend past Carnegie Mellon (PA) (81-69) and No. 14 Catholic (DC) (89-85) in Washington, DC.