DANVILLE, Va. - Brevard College men's basketball seniors Demari Hopper and Levi Lamb turned in double-digit scoring performances, including a double-double effort from Hopper, but two big second-half scoring runs propelled the Averett University Cougars (6-4, 2-0 USAS) to a USA South Conference victory over the visiting Tornados (1-6, 1-1 USAS), 77-55, at the Grant Center in Danville, Virginia.
Hopper's 12 points and 10 rebounds marked the first career double-double recorded for the Gastonia, North Carolina native. Hopper shot an efficient 4-of-7 from the field and knocked in 4-of-5 shots from the free-throw line. The senior guard put in work on both sides of the court, swiping a team-high three steals and blocking a shot as well.
Senior forward Levi Lamb added 12 points that included two 3-pointers. The Atlanta native pulled down eight rebounds and dished out a team-best three assists to go along with his double-digit scoring total.
Freshman Ja'Michael Boone turned in seven points, while Joshua Wilson (six points), Qadhafi Turner (five points), and Hayden Cassell (five points) also contributed scoring totals in Tuesday night's contest.
Averett's Vince Contreras led four double-digit scorers with a 20-point outing for the Cougars. Contreras went 7-of-10 from the field and added 6-of-7 from the charity stripe.
Averett outshot Brevard 46% to 35% from the field and 38% to 17% from long range en route to the Cougars' 22-point triumph. The Cougars held a 44-30 rebounding advantage and converted 24 points-off-turnovers to Brevard's 10.
Both sides battled through the first three-plus minutes of the contest in scoreless, back-and-forth action before Brevard's Boone broke the zero-zero tie with a layup at the 16:31 mark. The two sides traded 3-pointers to make the score 5-3 in favor of the visiting Tornados before Averett's Contreras knotted the score at 5 apiece with a jumper at the 15:21 mark.
Following an Averett 3-pointer, Brevard's Hopper scored four-consecutive points to hand the Tornados a 9-8 lead at the 11:48 mark. This advantage proved to be BC's final lead of the evening.
Both sides battled through the rest of the first half, with the Cougars able to hold onto the lead throughout the period. A Corey Baldwin 3-pointer extended Averett's lead to a six-point cushion, 32-26, at halftime.
An early Hopper free throw made the score 32-27, however, Averett would go on to outscore Brevard 17-2 over the game's next seven-plus minutes, taking a controlling 49-29 lead with 12:18 left in the second half.
Brevard would spend the next portion of the second half battling back, cutting the Averett lead to 11 points, 61-50, with 4:27 left following a Cassell layup. However, the Cougars were able to effectively put away the contest with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, cruising to the finish line with the 77-55 victory.
A quick turnaround now ensues for the Tornados, as Brevard men's basketball visits Greensboro College for the second of back-to-back road contests. Brevard and Greensboro are set to tip-off in Greensboro, North Carolina on Wednesday at approximately 7:30 p.m., following Greensboro's women's basketball contest vs. Meredith College.
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