For immediate release – 1/10/2015 - #218
Hornets Prove Clutch in Road Victory over EMU

HARRISONBURG, VA – Sophomore Zack Burnett hit a game-winning three-pointer with 12 seconds left to lift the Lynchburg College men's basketball team to a 72-70 victory over Eastern Mennonite University in Saturday night's Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup.

The Hornets trailed by 10 points a mere 15 seconds into the second half before clawing into the 38-28 spread.

Burnett hit one of his season-high four threes at 19:28 to get the game within nine points. He then stole the ball from EMU's David Falk the next time down the floor and found Alex Graves for a jumper to close the gap to five.

Eastern Mennonite regrouped and pulled back in front by 10, leading 50-40 with 14 minutes left to play.

Lynchburg locked down on the defensive end and got three jumpers from Graves and a pair of A.J. Hamilton free throws while limiting the Royals to one basket, cutting the lead to four at 52-48.

Graves and Burnett scored a basket each on LC's next two trips up the floor to tie the contest. Hamilton connected on a three-pointer with 10:51 left to give Lynchburg a 55-53 lead and cap off a 15-3 run.

That is the final lead Lynchburg would have until Burnett's three to win the contest.

Ryan Yates and Maleke Jones got Eastern Mennonite back out in front as they combined for the next seven points in the game.

EMU led 69-67 with 1:44 to play when Falk managed just one of two free throws to keep the lead within one possession.

Falk then fouled Omar Kemp on the return trip up the floor for the Hornets. Kemp managed to knock down both free throws to cut the lead to 70-69 and set up Burnett's heroics. EMU missed its final seven free throws of the game, six in the final minute.  

Marcel Crump led the Royals (9-4/2-2 ODAC) with 17 points while Falk finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Graves finished with a career-high 26 points and seven rebounds while Burnett ended with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Hamilton contributed 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two blocks off the bench.

Lynchburg (9-4/2-2) travels to Guilford College (9-4/2-2) for a 7:30 p.m. ODAC start on Wednesday.

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