University of Lynchburg

The 2016 Lynchburg men’s basketball team secured its place in program history by earning the ODAC Championship title, the best record in program history, and the first ever victory in the NCAA Tournament. The Hornets claimed the conference crown for the first time since 1979 by defeating Randolph College in an overtime thriller, 62-60. Graves earned Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors, and Arnold and Burnett joined him on the all-tournament team. The Hornets earned an overall record of 22-4, tying the program’s single-season wins record, and earned the ODAC’s automatic bid to their first NCAA Division III Tournament since 1979. Lynchburg went on to play Scranton in the first round of the national tournament and claimed an emphatic 82-55 triumph before being nipped in the second round. Alex Graves was named a First-Team All-American, All-South Region Player of the Year, All-State Player of the Year, and ODAC Player of the Year. Graves and Zach Burnett were named to the All-ODAC First Team.