Hornets come from behind to down Bishop men, 71-70

Rocky Mount, NC - The Shenandoah University men's basketball team overcame a 17-point first half deficit on Saturday afternoon to earn a 71-70 victory over host North Carolina Wesleyan in Everett Gymnasium. The victory is the first for the Hornets (14-7, 4-4) in Rocky Mount since an 80-79 win on February 7, 1999.  With the loss, the Bishops drop to 9-11 on the season, 2-5 in USA South play.

Trailing 70-69 after Jeremiah Lawrence hit one of two free throws with 58 seconds remaining, SU got a block by Lawrence on a Lenny Hall miss at the 29 second mark. Onyie Onunaku rebounded the ball for the visitors, and kicked it ahead to Stevie Johns, who fed a streaking Lawrence for the game-winning points.

Wesleyan had two chances to win it in the waning seconds, but Jarmel Arrington and Hall both missed attempts. Hall had an open look at a three-pointer as time expired, but the ball went off the front rim and then the top of the backboard.

Lawrence's lay-up capped a comeback from 17 points down. Fueled by six first-half three-pointers, NCWC took that 17-point advantage at the 8:48 mark of the first. Shenandoah got itself back into it with a 16-5 run to finish the opening 20 minutes, but trailed 39-33 at the break. 

The Hornets eventually tied it on a Brandon Bryan three-pointer at the 9:25 mark. The lead swapped back and forth four more times until Lawrence finished off the game-winner.

Lawrence' 28 led all scorers, as did his 17 rebounds. Onuanku and Bryan backed him up with 13 apiece, while Hall had 21 and Trey Drake 15 for the Bishops.

Shenandoah owned a 48-43 advantage on the boards.

Wesleyan returns to action on Tuesday night at Christopher Newport.  Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Newport News.

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