Harrisonburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg men's basketball won an overtime thriller against Eastern Mennonite University Saturday night, 95-87, as senior Tharon Suggs put up 30 points and fellow senior T.C. Thacker recorded his second straight double-double. 

The Hornets (2-0, 1-0 ODAC) came out of the gate firing on all cylinders as the offense went on a 10-0 run to open the contest. The Royals (0-1, 0-1 ODAC) did not score until a Tim Jones jumper at the 13:20 mark. The Hornets were in control for the entire first half and led by as many as 16 after a Suggs jumper put Lynchburg up 20-4 with 11:37 left in the half.

Eastern Mennonite fought to end the first half as the Royals cut the lead to only eight after a Tie Evans steal and made jumper to put the score at 36-28 and bring the half to a close. 

Lynchburg began the second half like it did the first but timely shooting brought the Royals back into the ball game and after a Mizz Nyagwegwe jumper, EMU took its first lead of the game, 68-67, with 7 minutes left in regulation. Then senior Joey Hamer hit two consecutive free throws to put the Hornets back in front, 69-68.

Lynchburg and EMU went back and forth in the last seven minutes of the contest, and with the Royals up 81-76 with 32 seconds left, senior Isräel Lockamy hit a corner 3-pointer to put the Hornets back within two. After a Lynchburg timeout and a Royals' turnover, Suggs made a layup to tie the game at 81-81 and then a missed EMU layup sent the game to overtime. 

The same Hornet offense from the first half was on display in overtime as Lynchburg outscored the Royals 14-6 in the extra minutes to come away with the victory.

Thacker scored 16 points as he and junior Dow Dunton combined for 30 boards. Freshman Miles Taylor had 10 points off the bench to round out the Hornet offense. 

Lynchburg will be back in action Wednesday, January 27 with another ODAC matchup as the Hornets will take on the Hampden-Sydney Tigers at 7 p.m.

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--LYN--