LYNCHBURG, Va. – Sophomore Ryan Clements made a game-winning three-point field goal with just four-tenths of a second remaining to lead Hampden-Sydney to a dramatic 71-70 non-conference basketball road win at Lynchburg on Tuesday night. Clements' shot off the glass from left of the circle beat the final buzzer after the Hornets had made 1-2 free throws with 17.5-seconds on the clock to lead 70-68. Freshman Davidson Hubbard led the visiting Tigers (2-4) with a career-high 19 points off the bench, while senior captain Jake Hahn added 17 points and Clements finished with 14 points — none bigger than the final three. Tharon Suggs scored a game-high 32 points for Lynchburg (3-3).
"Wow, what a finish tonight," said second-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough, whose team won its second game in a row. "The guys have been adjusting and finding ways to get better all year through a lot of adversity. So proud of our effort and composure tonight. Great win!"
Lynchburg took an early 6-4 advantage at 17:13 of the first half before H-SC used a 12-3 run to take their largest lead of the opening half at 16-9 with 11:21 on the clock. Hahn sparked the quick outburst with eight points, including a conventional three-point play inside and a 3-pointer. The Hornets closed to within 16-14 at 9:08, but the Tigers outscored their hosts 9-5 to lead 25-19 at 6:19, getting four quick points from Hubbard. Lynchburg answered back with nine consecutive points to go ahead 28-25 at 4:21, but the visitors responded well, outscoring the Hornets 7-3 to the first-half horn to lead 32-31 at the intermission — Hubbard with 10 points at the break.
H-SC got a 3-pointer from freshman Adam Brazil to open the second half, and led 47-41 at 13:07 after consecutive baskets inside from Hubbard and Hahn. The Tigers matched their largest lead at 53-46 with 10:30 remaining after a steal and high-flying slam dunk by Clements. Lynchburg answered with seven-straight points to tie it at 53-53 with 6:13 on the clock, but freshman Alex Elliott responded with a big 3-pointer off the bench for the visitors at 5:57. The game with tied four more times down the stretch, including at 66-66 with 1:17 left after another huge 3-pointer from Elliott. An old-fashioned three-point play by Suggs had the hosts ahead 69-66 at 59.6-seconds, but freshman Josiah Hardy made two free throws with 42.2-seconds remaining to make it 69-68. Suggs made 1-2 free throws at 17.5-seconds for the 70-68 advantage, before Clements provided the heroics while successful on his game-winning three-pointer off the glass from left of the circle just ahead of the final buzzer at 0.4.
Hubbard led H-SC with his career-high 19 points, adding a career-high seven rebounds—four on the offensive end. Hahn finished with 17 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers, while Clements had 14 points, including the game-winner, along with a career-high and game-high seven steals. Hardy contributed eight points, three assists and two blocks, Elliott had a career-high eight points, including 2-2 three-pointers, and Brazil added five points. H-SC shot 44% (27-61) from the field, including 31% (5-16) on three-pointers, and 60% (12-20) at the free throw line.
Suggs led Lynchburg with his game-high 32 points, including 5-for-8 3-point shooting. Luke Romeo finished with 12 points off the bench for the Hornets. Lynchburg shot 46% (24-52) from the field, including 46% (10-for-22) on 3-pointers, and 75% (12-16) at the line.
It was the Tigers' first win against Lynchburg since Jan. 21, 2015 — a 63-61 road win in Lynchburg, as the Hornets had won nine consecutive games against H-SC, who was playing its first game since Feb. 5.
H-SC will play its seventh consecutive game on the road when it travels to play another non-conference contest at Virginia Wesleyan on Friday evening, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. in Virginia Beach. A previously scheduled conference home game against archrival Randolph-Macon on Feb. 19 has been canceled due to health and safety protocols.