Buena Vista, Va. – The Southern Virginia University men's basketball team claimed the top spot in the conference standings with a crucial 76-66 victory over Brevard College. The Knights improved to 6-1 in conference play and 15-3 overall, edging ahead of Pfeiffer and Mary Baldwin, both sitting at 5-2 in the standings.

The Knights had a slow start, struggling to find their rhythm on offense and scoring just 12 points in the first 10 minutes. They trailed by as many as six before Eli Ballstaedt ignited the offense with a three-pointer, followed by three consecutive free throws to tie the game at 21.

Turnovers plagued Southern Virginia in the first half, leading to 16 points for Brevard off takeaways. However, the dynamic duo of Ballstaedt and Christian Goode kept the Knights in contention, heading into halftime tied at 33.

Both teams came out firing in the second half, combining for 16 points in the first two minutes. The return of Tyler Kartchner, who had been sidelined due to early foul trouble, provided a significant boost in the paint. Kartchner scored back-to-back layups, giving the Knights a six-point lead over the smaller Brevard lineup.

Tillman Johnson contributed with several mid-range jumpers and free throws, extending the Knights' lead to seven with 11 minutes remaining. Ballstaedt continued his offensive surge with a layup and a three-pointer, while Goode capped off a strong run with an emphatic dunk, pushing the lead to 12.

Down the stretch, DJ Green stepped up, scoring seven straight points to maintain Southern Virginia's advantage and secure the 76-66 win.

The Knights' second-half dominance was evident, outscoring Brevard 26-10 in points in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 35-27.

Key Performances:

Eli Ballstaedt: 28 points (8-16 FG, 5-10 3PT, 7-9 FT), 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals.

Christian Goode: 18 points (7-9 FG, 4-4 FT), 2 steals.

Tyler Kartchner: In just 13 minutes, contributed 10 points (5-6 FG) and 6 rebounds.

DJ Green and Tillman Johnson: Added 9 and 8 points, respectively.

The Knights' bench contributed just three points, with the starters shining in the victory.

Southern Virginia now turns their attention to a crucial road matchup against reigning USA South Conference champions Mary Baldwin University. The Knights will look to snap a two-game losing streak to the Fighting Squirrels on Wednesday, January 29th, at 6:00 PM.

For the latest updates on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.