Lynchburg, Va. -- Senior T.C. Thacker was unaffected by the delayed start to the season as the Madison Heights native recorded a double-double to start the year, finishing with 16 points and 19 boards against Methodist University Sunday afternoon as University of Lynchburg men's basketball defeated the Monarchs, 78-65. 

The Hornets (1-0) received contributions from the whole bench as each player recorded minutes and Thacker's 16 points and 19 rebounds paced the Lynchburg offense. In his first collegiate game, freshman guard Landon Sutton scored 12 points off the bench. Junior forward Dow Dunton and senior guard Tharon Suggs contributed eights points each. 

Lynchburg scored early as senior Isräel Lockamy hit a corner 3-pointer just 7 seconds in, and the Hornets never looked back. The Monarchs (0-1) held the lead for only 24 seconds of the game as Lynchburg went down 17-16 after a Garren Dearman layup. The one point lead did not last long; freshman Trey Pittman scored to put the Hornets up 18-17.

Lynchburg went into the second half leading 37-25 and continued to dominate the floor. The lead for the Hornets swelled to 23 in the second half after Thacker knocked down two free throws, putting Lynchburg up 78-55 with 2:40 left in regulation and sealing the season-opening win. 

Hornets men's basketball will be back in action on Saturday, January 23 as Lynchburg travels to Eastern Mennonite University to take on the Royals to open Old Dominion Athletic Conference play. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

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--LYN--