Bridgewater, Va. – The Southern Virginia University men's basketball team claimed a hard-fought 76-65 victory over Bridgewater College in a defensive showdown, improving to 2-1 on the season.

The Eagles, ranked ninth in the ODAC preseason poll, entered the game at 2-1 but struggled against Southern Virginia's relentless defensive effort. The Knights overcame an early five-point deficit with clutch three-pointers from Christian Goode and Tillman Johnson, taking the lead and holding it for the final 31 minutes. Southern Virginia's defense shined in the first half, holding Bridgewater to just 28.1% shooting from the field and 20.0% from beyond the arc.

Tyler Kartchner played a pivotal role, dominating the boards and providing key offensive contributions to help the Knights maintain their lead. His presence set the tone for the game as Southern Virginia built their largest lead, an 18-point advantage, with four minutes left in the second half. Although Bridgewater narrowed the gap to 10 points late, the Knights held firm to secure the 76-65 win.

Southern Virginia's 41-29 rebounding edge proved critical, with Kartchner recording a monster double-double in just 26 minutes, tallying 14 points, 15 rebounds, and three steals. Johnson led all scorers with 16 points, while Eli Ballstaedt, DJ Green, and Kartchner each added double-digit points.

The Knights excelled across the board, leading in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, rebounds, and points in the paint. Their balanced attack and defensive tenacity paved the way for this key road victory.

Southern Virginia now prepares for an exhibition match against Radford University on Monday, November 18th, before hosting Shenandoah University in their home opener on Saturday, November 23rd, at 4:00 PM.

For all the most up-to-date information regarding Southern Virginia University men's basketball, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.