HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Senior team captain Josiah Hardy (Ashburn) scored a career-high 20 points, and fifth-year Ryan Clements (Conyers, GA) added 18 points, to lead nationally-ranked No. 1 Hampden-Sydney College to a 91-76 home win past Rowan (NJ) University in the third round of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship on Friday night at S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium in Kirby Field House. Sophomore Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) added a career-high 15 points off the bench, while senior Davidson Hubbard (Charlotte, NC) finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers, who led 42-31 at halftime and improved to 29-2 overall. The Profs complete their season with a final record of 21-8 and were led by Danny Fleming with a game-high 25 points off the bench, and Ja'Zere Noel with 23 points.

H-SC advances to the Quarterfinals (Elite Eight) of the NCAA Tournament and will play Nebraska Wesleyan University (26-4) on Saturday night, March 9, at 7 p.m. in Fleet Gym for an opportunity to advance to the Final Four on March 14-16 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. There will be very limited number of tickets available on Saturday at the Entrance to Fleet Gym beginning at 5 p.m.

 "What an atmosphere tonight!" said fifth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "The crowd definitely helped give us the energy to get it done. I think we showed once again that we are a team with a lot of different weapons. If one man goes down, the next guy will step up. We trust each other and believe. Big win tonight… not done yet!"

H-SC took an early 8-2 advantage at 17:06 as Hardy opened with two free throws, followed by six-straight points by Hubbard, including a pair of free throws, as well. Rowan was within 10-6 at 14:46, but the Tigers scored 10 unanswered points to lead 20-6 with 10:47 on the first-half clock. Fernald, senior Alex Elliott (Marietta, GA) and senior team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) each scored baskets, along with two more free throws from Hardy, before Clements took a one-handed bounce pass from Brazil on the left wing and threw down a one-handed tomahawk slam dunk that sent the capacity crowd of 1,200 into a frenzy. It was 24-11 at 8:55 after another basket inside by Hardy, and a floater in the lane from Clements made it 26-13 with 6:32 left in the half. A three-point field goal by freshman Blake Wilson (Charlottesville) (off the bench) had the Garnet & Grey ahead 31-20 at 3:25, and a pair of free throws from Clements pushed the margin to 37-25 at 1:44, and two more free throws by Clements provided for a 42-31 advantage at halftime.

H-SC expanded the lead early in the second half, leading 53-38 at 16:57 following an old-fashioned three-point play by Fernald, who scored five-straight points, after six quick points from Hardy to being the half. Rowan used a 14-8 run to get within 61-52 at 13:18, but the Tigers responded with nine unanswered points to take their largest lead of the night at 70-52 with 11:09 remaining. Brazil started with a layup, Clements made two more free throws, fifth-year Chase Turner (Virginia Beach) knocked down a three-pointer, Fernald scored down low—assisted by Brazil. The Garnet & Grey maintained a comfortable margin the rest of the way as the Profs were only within nine points on two occasions over the final 2:24. H-SC led 76-59 at 9:16 following a jumper by Fernald … 80-66 after a layup from Hardy … 83-68 at 5:43 following a basket by Hubbard and a free throw by Turner … and the Tigers secured the outcome with 8-8 free throws over the final 2:00, including 4-4 by Clements.

Hardy led H-SC with his career-high 20 points, including 7-9 field goals and 6-6 free throws. Clements finished with his 18 points for the Tigers, including 10-11 free throws, along with a game-high seven assists and five rebounds, as well. Fernald contributed his career-high 15 points, including 7-10 field goals, adding three assists. Hubbard had his 14 points, along with a game-high eight rebounds, while Brazil had eight points and four assists—surpassing1,000 career points at the College—totaling 1,007 career points to become the 46th Tiger to reach the scoring milestone. Turner finished with six points and seven rebounds. H-SC shot 52% (33-63) from the field, including 20% (3-15) on three-pointers, and an impressive 92% (22-24) at the free throw line. The Garnet & Grey enjoyed a 50-26 advantage in points scored in the paint, and a 23-6 advantage in points scored off turnovers—forcing 15 miscues by the Profs.

Fleming led Rowan with his game-high 25 points off the bench, adding game-highs of eight rebounds and two steals, as well. Noel had his 23 points and a game-high eight rebounds, as well, for the Profs. Rowan shot 43% (23-54) from the field, including 29% (6-21) on three-pointers, and 80% (24-30) at the line—the two teams combined to shoot 54 free throws in the contest.

Nineteenth-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan advanced to the Quarterfinals with a 74-70 win past Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the opening third-round game on Friday night.