HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – Hampden-Sydney closed the game with a 23-7 run over the final 5:24 to produce a 66-62 victory over Washington and Lee in ODAC men's basketball action on Wednesday evening at Fleet Gymnasium.

The Generals (1-5, 0-1) led or were tied for all but the final 26 seconds of the contest, shooting 53.8 percent (14-26) in the first half in building a double-digit lead en route to a 34-25 advantage at the half.

The Tigers (2-3, 1-0) kept within striking distance for much of the second half and trailed by four points (47-43) following a layup by junior forward Guilherme Guimaraes with 8:55 remaining.  However, W&L used a quick 8-0 run featuring a pair of layups by sophomore guard Devin Kearns (Cibolo, Texas / Samuel Clemens) to push out to a 12-point lead (55-43) with 5:35 left.

Hampden-Sydney began its comeback shortly thereafter with a 3-point play from junior forward Nick Chase and a three-pointer by first-year guard Kevin Quinn.  After Chase hit a pair of free throws to cut it to a 57-51 game with 3:59 remaining, the Generals turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions that led to a pair of layups and a Guimaraes dunk that tied the game at 57-57 with 2:20 left.

Junior forward Clayton Murtha (Dallas, Texas / Highland Park) gave W&L the lead back (59-57) on a layup at the 1:52 mark, but Guimaraes responded with a layup of his own 26 seconds later to tie the game back up.  Kearns hit a fade away jumper for a 61-59 lead at the 1:00 mark, but Guimaraes was fouled at 0:50, sending him to the free throw line.  He hit the first and missed the second, but got his own rebound and scored from underneath the basket with 26 seconds left to give the Tigers their first lead of the game (62-61).

Kearns missed a layup with six seconds remaining and the Generals were forced to foul.  Chase hit a pair of free throws with four seconds left for a 64-61 lead and H-SC fouled Kearns to ensure the Blue & White could not tie with a three-pointer.  Kearns made the first charity toss and intentionally missed the second, but the Tigers grabbed the board and senior guard Jake Duncan was fouled, hitting a pair of free throws for the final margin.

W&L shot just 38.5 percent (10-26) from the floor in the second half and finished the game at 46.2 percent (24-52).  Murtha led the way with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.  Senior guard Andy Kleinlein (Chesterfield, Mo. / Chaminade College Prep) totaled 14 points and Kearns added 12 markers.

Guimaraes and Chase led Hampden-Sydney with 16 points each.  Guimaraes also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.  Duncan chipped in 13 points for the Tigers, who went 21-for-27 (.778) at the foul line and 21-of-46 (.457) from the floor.

Washington and Lee returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Methodist for a 2:00 pm contest.

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