Men's Basketball

Kleinlein Nets Triple in Final Seconds to Lead Generals to 64-63 Win over E&H

Box Score

LEXINGTON, Va. — Senior guard Andy Kleinlein (Chesterfield, Mo./Chaminade College Prep) hit a step-back three-pointer from the corner with 4.2 seconds remaining in the game to propel the Washington and Lee men's basketball team to a 64-63 victory over Emory & Henry on Wednesday at the Warner Center.

A layup by junior forward Clayton Murtha (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park) gave the Generals (6-8, 2-3 ODAC) a 59-54 lead with 5:20 remaining in the second half.  Junior guard John Shelor split a pair of free throws for the Wasps (9-5, 3-2 ODAC) on the ensuing possession, and then a steal by Shelor and a layup by senior guard Myles Turner trimmed the deficit to two (59-57) with 4:40 left on the clock.

Murtha drained a jumper to put the Blue and White back up four, 61-57, but a layup by junior forward Chase Branscomb brought E&H to within two (61-59) with 3:39 remaining in the game. Neither team scored over the next two minutes, but a runner by senior guard Ryan Gravley with 1:29 on the clock tied the game at 61-61.

The Generals came up empty on their next possession, and with 32 seconds left in the contest, Branscomb converted a layup to give the Wasps their only lead (63-61) of the second half. Kleinlein missed a triple at the top of the key with 23 seconds remaining, but sophomore guard Devin Kearns (Cibolo, Texas/Samuel Clemens) secured the rebound.

The ball found its way back to Kleinlein with the clock winding down. The senior drove toward the hoop, but then bounced back out to the near corner. He stepped behind the three-point line and released a high-arcing shot that found nothing but net (64-63) with 4.2 seconds on the clock.

E&H then called four consecutive timeouts, as it advanced the ball up the court. Eventually, Turner attempted a three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired, but he missed wide right, as the Blue and White held on for the one-point victory.

Murtha, Kleinlein and Kearns accounted for 56 of the team's 64 points. Kleinlein had 23 points on 6-of-8 from the floor and six rebounds. Murtha totaled 20 points and nine boards, while Kearns notched 13 points and five assists.

Turner led the Wasps with 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Sophomore forward Aaron Ferguson came off the bench to tally 12 points and five boards.

W&L held E&H to just 3-of-20 (15.0 percent) from long range, while the Generals hit 5-of-13 attempts (38.5 percent) from downtown. Both teams struggled from the foul line, as the Blue and White went 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) and E&H was 6-of-10 (60.0 percent).

The Generals return to action on Saturday, when they host Randolph at 4:30 pm. 

-- www.generalssports.com --

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Players Mentioned

Devin Kearns

#14 Devin Kearns

G
6' 3"
Sophomore
Andy Kleinlein

#21 Andy Kleinlein

G
5' 11"
Senior
Clayton Murtha

#55 Clayton Murtha

F
6' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Devin Kearns

#14 Devin Kearns

6' 3"
Sophomore
G
Andy Kleinlein

#21 Andy Kleinlein

5' 11"
Senior
G
Clayton Murtha

#55 Clayton Murtha

6' 6"
Junior
F