BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College men's basketball team (2-8, 1-2 USAS) will compete in its first two games of the 2020 calendar year when the Tornados host Methodist University (6-5, 2-1 USAS) and NC Wesleyan College (5-5, 1-1 USAS) in consecutive days at the Boshamer Gymnasium this weekend.
The Tornados will face the Monarchs of Methodist on Saturday prior to battling the Battling Bishops of NC Wesleyan on Sunday afternoon. Both contests are slated for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
The weekend will serve as Brevard's Faith & Family Weekend promotion. All church groups and families wishing to attend either game will receive free admittance. Live video and statistics will be available at the start of each contest by clicking here.
The Tornados return to play after competing in the Holiday Inn Express Classic, hosted by Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Brevard earned a hard-fought 1-1 record at the event following two tight battles against SAA member-institutions Berry College and Oglethorpe.
In Brevard's first game, the Tornados were upended, 71-70, following a last-second layup by the Vikings. Cannon Lamb posted his second double-double effort of the 2019-20 season in the contest, as the Marion, North Carolina native dropped 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting that included a team-high five 3-pointers. The junior forward also hauled down 10 boards, all defensive rebounds, which was a game-high.
Despite the quick turnaround, the Tornados were able to bounce back, holding off a couple of late Oglethorpe rallies to defeat the Stormy Petrels, 67-64. Senior guard Demari Hopper poured in a season-high 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting while draining a game-high five 3-pointers. The Gastonia, North Carolina native also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds. Hopper's 20 points were his most points scored since a 21-point performance in his freshman season against Greensboro College on February 4, 2018.
Senior forward Levi Lamb, a native of Atlanta, added 14 points and five rebounds alongside a pair of steals and assists, while junior forward Cannon Lamb recorded 12 points to round out Brevard's double-digit scorers in the team's narrow victory.
Levi Lamb, Cannon Lamb, & Hopper continue to pace the BC offense, as the trio has each averaged double-digit scoring totals this season. Levi Lamb leads the way with 14.9 ppg, while Cannon Lamb ranks second with 13.3 ppg. Hopper's 11.47 points-per-game puts the senior third on the team. Hopper also continues his stellar defensive play, as his 2.2 steals-per-game ranks top-three in the USA South Conference.
Both opponents this upcoming weekend feature top-10 USA South scorers. NC Wesleyan's AJ Frye and Methodist's Dante Burden both are tied-for-seventh, averaging 16.8 ppg in 2019-20.
Following Brevard's busy weekend of home contests, the Tornados will hit the road for their first of three-straight USA South road contests, as BC heads to Berea, Kentucky to take on the Mountaineers of Berea College. The matchup serves as a rematch of the two schools' meeting in Brevard back on December 7, 2019, that saw the Tornados take a 76-68 victory at the Boshamer Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
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