HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. -- Junior forward and team captain Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) scored a team-high 20 points to lead nationally-ranked No. 4 Hampden-Sydney College to a 78-71 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball home win past Guilford (NC) College on Wednesday night in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. All-American fifth-year guard and third-year team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC) added 16 points and a game-high six assists, freshman guard Travis Stickney (Mount Pleasant, SC) had 13 points, and senior guard Nick Shryock (Davidson, NC) added 12 points. The Tigers led 50-27 at halftime, but the Quakers began the second half on a 22-2 run, before the Garnet & Grey answered with an 11-4 run to retake the momentum toward their 10th consecutive win. H-SC improved to 20-3 overall, 13-1 in the ODAC, while GC dropped to 17-6 overall, 10-4 in the ODAC—led by Nick Farrar with a game-high double-double of 34 points and 14 rebounds.

"What a gritty win tonight," said sixth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "We could have easily given in when things didn't go our way in the second half, but our guys fought and found a way to get it done. We had a lot of guys step up and make big plays when we needed them. A sign of a great team!"

H-SC, ranked No. 4 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, scored the first five points of the game and led 10-9 at 15:25—getting two free throws from Fernald, a three-point field goal by Shryock, a driving layup from Brazil and a three-pointer by Stickney. The Tigers continued the early momentum, outscoring GC 31-11 to lead 41-20 with just 2:46 left in the opening half. Junior transfer guard and team captain Colin Radcliffe (Richlands, NC) sparked the outburst with a pair of three-pointers off the bench, while Stickney, Shryock and senior guard Ayman McGowan (Memphis, TN) each added three-pointers, as well, while Brazil had an old-fashioned three-point play and freshman forward John Campbell (High Point, NC) contributed a fastbreak slam dunk in traffic—much to the delight of the vocal and supportive crowd of 727 on a bad weather night. McGowan would add another three-pointer, while Stickney, Brazil and Fernald scored down the stretch for the 50-27 halftime advantage—Fernald with a steal and layup just ahead of the horn. The Garnet & Grey shot 58% (19-33) from the field, including 62% (8-13) on three-pointers, during the opening 20 minutes.

GC rallied back to begin the second half, outscoring H-SC 22-2 to close to within 52-49 with 10:56 remaining, getting six points each from Farrar and Caleb Farrish with two three-pointers and aided by two more three-pointers, as well. The Tigers, however, regained the momentum with a quick 11-4 run to take a 63-53 lead at 7:07 as Fernald scored six points along with two points each from Brazil and Stickney. The Garnet & Grey maintained the advantage the rest of the way, as the Quakers were never closer than six points, the last time at 67-61 with 3:26 left after two free throws by Farrar. Fernald answered with two free throws of his own at 3:10, and Shryock connected on a huge three-pointer from the corner at 2:29 off a pretty pass from Stickney for a 72-63 margin. The Garnet & Grey secured the outcome with 6-8 free throws over the final 1:44, including 4-4 by Brazil, for the victory.

Fernald led H-SC with his 20 points, adding five rebounds and a game-high four steals—the latter equaling his career-high. Brazil added his 16 points and game-high six assists for the Tigers. Stickney had his 13 points, adding five assists, while Shryock had his 12 points, adding seven rebounds. McGowan finished with eight points, and Radcliffe contributed six points. H-SC shot 47% (26-55) from the field, including 48% (10-21) on three-pointers, and 76% (16-21) at the free throw line.

Farrar led GC with his game-high double-double of 34 points and 14 rebounds. Farrish added 12 points and Chase Ellis had 10 points for the Quakers. GC shot 41% (28-68) from the field, including 24% (6-25) on three-pointers, and 64% (9-14) at the line.

H-SC has now won 10-straight games and has 12 wins in the last 13 games, earning its third-straight and 18th overall 20-win season in program history. The Tigers also secured a Top Four finish during the ODAC regular season with only two games remaining, and will host an ODAC Tournament Quarterfinal contest on Wednesday night, February 26, at 7 p.m. in Fleet Gym.

The Tigers will next play on the road at ODAC member (RV)Roanoke College on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m. in Salem.