HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Freshman guard Travis Stickney (Mount Pleasant, SC) scored a career-high and game-high 20 points to lead nationally-ranked No. 5 Hampden-Sydney College to a 66-47 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball home win past (RV)Virginia Wesleyan University on Wednesday night in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. Stickney was 7-8 from the floor, including 2-3 on three-point field goals, while junior forward and team captain Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, and junior transfer guard and team captain Colin Radcliffe (Richlands, NC) added 13 points off the bench. The Tigers led 33-24 at halftime, but the Marlins were within 44-40 with 8:38 remaining; however, the Garnet & Grey closed the contest on a 22-7 run toward their eighth consecutive win. H-SC improved to 18-3 overall, 11-1 in the ODAC, while VWU dropped to 16-5 overall, 9-3 in the ODAC—led by Waylo Wilson with 12 points.

"Kirby was alive tonight!" said sixth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "Thank you to all the students and members of the community who came out to support. This is a special team that is just starting to hit their stride. I think our best ball is still ahead of us!"

H-SC, ranked No. 5 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, opened with an old-fashioned three-point play by Fernald for an early 3-0 lead, but VWU, receiving votes in the poll, scored four-straight to lead 4-3 at 16:20. The Tigers responded well and used a quick 15-1 run to lead 18-5 with 10:36 left in the first half, as Stickney scored eight of the points, including a conventional three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play, while Fernald added another three-point play down low, as well. The Marlins closed to within 20-14 at 6:22, but the Garnet & Grey outscored their visitors 13-10 over the final 8:02 of the opening half to lead 33-24 at halftime. Stickney and Fernald each had 10 points at the break, while Radcliffe scored five first-half points, including a three-pointer.

H-SC extended the margin to 44-30 with 13:23 remaining after a layup by All-American fifth-year guard and third-year team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC), who scored four points, along with three points from Stickney, a slam dunk in transition by freshman forward John Campbell (High Point, NC) and a nice offensive rebound basket inside from sophomore center Alex Cannon (Loganville, GA) off the bench. VWU rallied back with 10 unanswered points to get to within 44-40 at 8:38, but the Tigers had an answer of their own … closing the contest on a 22-7 run over the final 8:27 for the victory. Radcliffe started the game-ending outburst with a three-pointer and closed it with a turnaround jumper with just over a minute left, adding a another three-pointer, as well, for eight of the points, while Stickney added seven points with another three-pointer of his own, along with a fastbreak slam dunk much to the delight of the loud student section at that end of the floor. Fernald (5) and Campbell (2) completed the late scoring to provide for the final margin.

Stickney led H-SC with his career-high and game-high 20 points, including 7-8 field goals (2-3 3FGs) and 4-5 free throws, adding two assists and one steal. Fernald added his 15 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers, along with three assists and one steal. Radcliffe had his 13 points off the bench, including 3-6 three-pointers. Brazil and Campbell each finished with six points, with Campbell adding five rebound and a game-high three blocks to equal his career-high, and Brazil added five rebounds and game-highs of six assists and three steals. H-SC shot 44% (24-55) from the field, including 29% (5-17) on three-pointers, and 77% (13-17) at the free throw line.

Wilson led VWU with his 12 points, adding six rebounds. Amari Moorer added a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Marlins. VWU shot 31% (19-61) from the field, including just 11% (2-18) on three-pointers, and 78% (7-9) at the line.

H-SC plays on the road at ODAC member Bridgewater College on Saturday afternoon, February 8, at 4:30 p.m. in Bridgewater.