BREVARD, N.C. – Brandon McLean scored a team-high 15 points, including 11 in the second half, to help lead Huntingdon to a 75-65 victory over Brevard in Saturday afternoon men's basketball action at Boshamer Gym.
The Tornados (0-3) were led in scoring by the trio of JaMarquis Johnson (19), Stevie Williams (15) and Divese Carson (11). Johnson, who has now reached double figures in back-to-back contests, finished 6-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe. Among his six made field goals, two were from 3-point range.
Williams capped off a double-digit outing by hitting 5-of-9 from the floor to go along with four free throws. Williams shared the team lead in blocks (two) with Johnson as he also pulled down six rebounds.
Carson, who logged 22 minutes off the bench, converted three 3-pointers and was 2-of-2 from the free throw line on the afternoon. The freshman also came through with three rebounds and one assist on the afternoon.
McLean, who finished 6-of-8 from the floor, was one of two Hawks players to top double figures along with T.C. Elmore (10). They helped Huntingdon finish 25-of-66 (37.9%) from the floor an 19-of-24 (79.2%) from the free throw line.
One of the keys to Huntingdon's success on the afternoon was its 52-33 edge in rebounds, which included 17 offensive boards. That helped proved a 33-16 advantage in points in the paint and a 17-8 edge in second chance points.
Building on a five-point halftime lead, Brevard opened the second half by scoring 10 of the first 16 points. Six of those points came via 3-pointers by Johnson and Williams, giving Brevard a 48-39 advantage less than four minutes into the frame.
Huntingdon chipped away at the lead behind five points from John Jay Graves, but timely scores by Levi Lamb and Williams allowed the Tornados to keep their distance, 52-44. The Hawks retaliated with a 9-0 run, highlighted by five points from Scotty Chadwick, grabbing a one-point lead at the 11:04 mark.
The two teams traded points for the next 3:31 of the contest before a layup by McLean allowed Huntingdon to grab a 62-59 lead. The Hawks followed with free throws from Charvez' Hobson and a second McLean layup as they took a seven-point lead with just under five minutes left.
The trio of Carson, Williams and Johnson scored seven points for Brevard, which trimmed the deficit to 66-65 with 2:44 remaining. Huntingdon's defense held the Tornados scoreless for the remainder of the game as the Hawks converted six free throws and an Elmore trey to complete the win.
Huntington opened the game on a 6-1 run, following a 3-pointer by R.J. Jones, but the Tornados answered by scoring nine of the next 13 to bring the game to a 10-all tie. Layups by Williams and Shelby Parris, coupled with a 3-pointer off the hand of Carson, made up for Brevard's nine points.
The Hawks regained the lead with four quick points, but a series of treys by Carson and Jakob Bergen helped provide Brevard with an 18-14 advantage with nine minutes remaining.
Williams drove past the Hawks' defense for a layup, while Parris and Johnson added two layups each, as Brevard pushed the lead to 26-19 at the 7:32 mark. Williams then converted a three-point play just over two minutes later, providing the Tornados with a 10-point advantage.
Huntingdon's offense got back in rhythm as it scored seven nine, including a 3-pointer by Cam Boyd, to pull within one at the 3:42 mark. Brevard turned up the defensive pressure and allowed just three points in the half, while using three points each from Johnson and Levi Lamb to take a 38-33 lead into the intermission.
Brevard returns to action on Tuesday, Dec. 5, when the Tornados host Montreat College at 7:30 in Boshamer Gym. For more information check out www.bctornados.com.