Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia men's basketball team secured their first USA South conference win against Brevard College, triumphing 79-73 after a strong second-half surge.
Head Coach Trace Bevell expressed his satisfaction with the victory, stating, "It's great to return to the win column. We faced challenges in recent games, and Brevard proved to be a tough opponent to guard. Kudos to the team for their performance. We ran into some trouble on defense early, but the second-half adjustments made by the team were evident with nine steals on the night, highlighting our ability to address challenges and make effective changes."
The Knights navigated a competitive first half with nine lead changes, ultimately equalizing the score at 17 apiece with a 3-pointer from Alex Weiland and consecutive jumpers from Koa Baker. The Tornadoes gained a slim 37-34 lead at halftime with a late three-pointer.
Both teams struggled to find momentum in the second half, experiencing four turnovers in a minute. However, the Knights regrouped, with Tyler Kartchner, Baker, and DJ Green contributing to the offense. Despite the Tornadoes taking a 52-45 lead with 12 minutes remaining, Baker's remarkable 13-point run in four minutes, coupled with back-to-back threes, propelled the Knights to a 59-54 lead.
Crucial rebounds down the stretch and Baker's hot streak extended the lead to nine points with three minutes remaining. In the final minutes, clutch free throws from Baker and Green sealed the victory for the Knights.
Coach Bevell praised the team's overall performance, saying, "We witnessed great performances from all eight players who took the court today. Baker and Green's 40 minutes of play elevated our team, and Baker's offensive prowess was impressive."
Baker, who achieved a career-high 32 points, narrowly missed a double-double with nine assists but recorded a season-high in steals with four, contributing to the team's 16-7 lead in points off turnovers.
After a brief break, the Knights will hit the road to face Greensboro College on Tuesday, January 9th, marking the sixth meeting between the teams. The Pride currently hold a 3-2 edge, with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.
