Mary Baldwin men's basketball secured a thrilling 71–66 victory over Brevard College in a game defined by momentum swings and second-half resilience.
The contest was a tale of two halves, as Brevard controlled the opening period and carried a 33–30 lead into halftime. Mary Baldwin struggled offensively early, shooting just 12 percent from three-point range and leaving points at the line by converting only three of six free throws.
Senior
Raymond Benton kept the Fighting Squirrels within striking distance, scoring 13 first-half points. His highlight-reel slam dunk off an assist from freshman
Jalen Walker trimmed Brevard's lead to five and provided a spark heading into the break.
Brevard came out strong in the second half, extending its advantage to 15 following a 15–4 run. Twain Wilson led the Tornadoes' surge, forcing turnovers that turned into fast-break opportunities.
Mary Baldwin answered with poise. Freshman
Mason Wynne snapped the scoring drought by drilling a deep three-pointer, igniting a comeback. Wynne would tie his season-high 11 points, making three of his six three-pointers.
Benton continued to energize the lineup, while sophomore
Rony Hogarth found his rhythm, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the second half. Hogarth was nearly perfect after halftime, missing just one of seven shots and knocking down his lone three-point attempt.
Sophomore
DJ Via delivered in the clutch, hitting three key shots—including a late three-pointer—to give Mary Baldwin a 58–55 lead. The Fighting Squirrels never relinquished the advantage, sealing the win with Benton's emphatic dunk for his 20th point of the game.
Benton finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, recording his fourth double-double of the season and his second against Brevard.
Mary Baldwin returns home Tuesday, February 3, to take on Regent. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
Notes:
- Scoring Leaders:
- MBU
- BC
- Twain Wilson-18
- Jadon Carnes-17
- KK Horton-13
- Rebounds
- Second Chance Points
- Time With Lead
