Fredericksburg, Va. -- University of Lynchburg senior Isräel Lockamy dropped 16 points against Mary Washington as the Hornets fell 68-65 Friday night. 

Cam Savage opened the game with a baseline jumper. After a Mary Washington 3-pointer gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead, Lynchburg responded with a 15-2 run lasting 8:28. During the scoring outburst, Tharon Suggs made back-to-back 3-pointers and Jordan Parham capped off the run with a shot from way downtown. 

The Hornets built their 12-point lead with their solid shooting and tenacious defense, causing five turnovers before the midway point of the first half. 

Lynchburg's defense has been stellar in the opening ten minutes of both games this season. On Nov. 7, the Hornets held Methodist to just seven points in the first ten minutes and they were up 17-5 on Mary Washington with ten left to play in the first half. 

After a Mary Washington 3-pointer, Lockamy scored on consecutive possessions. First, he dropped in a running floater. Alex Fitch grabbed a rebound and found Lockamy as the outlet pass. The senior from Wake Forest, N.C. took the ball coast-to-coast, freeing himself up with an in-and-out move for the layup and a 21-8 lead. 

Mary Washington closed the gap to three points with 4:09 to play. Both teams were assessed technical fouls 20 seconds later. The Eagles went on a 12-3 run after the technicals and took a 30-27 lead into halftime. 

Early in the second half, Thacker converted a three-point play. On the next possession, Lockamy tied the game up at 35 with his third deep ball. 

Carrington Young and Suggs grabbed buckets after Lockamy's shot, but the Eagles still earned their first double-digit lead of the game at the 13:14 mark, 50-39.

Trey Pittman and the Hornets mounted a comeback 11:33 into the second half. Pittman scored eight points in under two minutes, cutting the Eagles' lead to one. Thacker sank his fourth shot with 5:13 to play and the Hornets retook the lead, 56-55. 

Lockamy sank another shot from beyond the arc, extending the lead to 59-55. However, the Eagles quickly responded with consecutive 3-pointers to regain the advantage. 

The last two minutes featured six lead changes, including when Thacker sank two free throws, putting the Hornets up 63-62 with 1:22 to play. Thacker finished the game with another double-double, grabbing 11 points and securing 15 rebounds. 

Mary Washington earned a lead on the next possession and never let it go. Savage cut the deficit to one with 11 seconds left on a driving layup and Lynchburg was forced to foul on the inbound. The Eagles converted both, capping off a 68-65 win.

Suggs scored 12 points to join Thacker and Lockamy in double figures. Suggs and Thacker both dished out four assists as well. 

The Hornets (1-1) take on Christopher Newport at home on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. 

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--LYN--