Averett held off the Bridgewater College down the stretch on New Year’s Day to take a 72-68 non-conference victory over the Eagles.
The Eagles led by as many as 11 points in the first half and held a 35-30 lead at the half. Ed Reddick led the way for the Eagles in the first half with 10 points and five rebounds.
Following the break, Averett hit the Eagles with a 12-0 run to start the second half to take a 42-35 lead.
The Eagles battled back and responded with a 10-0 run of its own to turn a four-point deficit into a 51-45 lead. Justin Hempe hit a 3-pointer and Aaron Adams made 1-of-2 at the line to tie the score at 45-45. Matthew Hunter’s bucket put BC back out front and Adams added consecutive layups to give the Eagles a six-point lead.
The Eagles led 57-55 with 6:05 left before a 3-pointer by Averett’s Sanil Ram gave the hosts a 58-57 lead. Bridgewater tied the score at 60-60 on a 3-pointer by Hempe, but Averett answered with a 3-pointer by Jeremy Ruffin to take the lead for good at 63-60.
Averett led 65-60 before a 3-pointer by Kenneth Waugh cut the margin to two, 65-63, with 1:30 remaining. Paul Porter scored inside for the Cougars to push the lead back to four, but a 3-pointer by Benaiah Wise made it a one-point game, 67-66, with 1:06 to play.
The Eagles then had their chance to regain possession with a chance to take the lead when the Cougars missed two shots from in close. But each time the Eagles were unable to control the rebound with the ball going out of bounds to Averett following the second miss. Porter then missed again, but he grabbed another offensive board and converted a three-point play for a 70-66 lead.
Wise knocked down a 15-footer with 21 seconds left to pull the Eagles to within two, but Averett went 4-for-4 from the line in the closing seconds to secure the final 74-68 victory.
Waugh led the Eagles with 14 points while freshmen Reddick and Adams each scored 12. Reddick also led Bridgewater on the glass with nine rebounds.
Justin Pierce paced the Cougars with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
The loss was the fifth straight for the Eagles, now 4-7 on the season.
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