DANVILLE, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College men’s basketball bested Averett on the road Saturday afternoon by a final score of 80-67.

Bridgewater College Eagles (BCE) returned to winning ways extending their overall record to 7-14 and 3-9 in conference play, and the Averett University Cougars (AUC) dropped to 13-8 overall and 6-6 in the ODAC.

How It Happened

The Bridgewater Eagles came ready to pounce from the very beginning. The shooting efficiency sprang up and Lincoln Jackson found his way for a career-high night. After the initial drop back to start the game being down 8-2, the Eagles stormed ahead with tough takes by Jahmir Brown. Jackson got busy under the rim snagging boards to hold possessions and put up easy baskets in the paint. Jackson tied it up at 14 apiece. Brown helped surge the Eagles to a seven-point ledger with a smooth lay-in inside. Kyren Smith later splashed a three from deep to continue with a seven-point lead halfway through the first half at 26-19.

More successful finishes worked in favor of BCE and a much more efficient shooting performance took place. Brown hustled to the rim to draw fouls and convert on free throws while Jackson continued to power through the paint to finish strong, extending the lead to 33-22.

With under a minute to go, the Eagles held firmly to the lead with easy jumpers and less turnovers.The first half went to BCE with a lead at 37-28.

The Eagles quickly moved ahead to start the second half as Jackson sank another easy basket under the rim to put the lead back up to double digits. The highest lead in the game at this point came four minutes in at a 13-point advantage. The Cougars struggled to maintain any momentum while the Eagles continued to stay in front. Shots continued falling for BCE and the Cougars were left searching for a rhythm.

The Cougars managed to pull off a quick scoring burst using back-to-back three pointers to drop the deficit to just two with 12 minutes to go. The Cougars then answered with yet another three pointer to take the lead and to get themselves right in control at 48-47. However, the Eagles hung in and escaped the scoring barrage by the Cougars.Mi’Kis Engram turned the offense back up with a three pointer and lifted the lead to four with under 10 minutes to go. Both teams went back and forth, but the Eagles stood in front.

Carter Palmer pushed the offense into higher gear nailing a three to get the momentum controlled and extended the lead back to 10 points. That was all the momentum needed. With under two minutes to go, Brown blazed through the defense off a fast break to cash in an easy layup while Jackson followed suit; pushing the lead to the highest of the night at 77-61. The Cougars attempted to close the gap with additional makes inside, but the Eagles came away victorious with a final score of 80-67.

Game Notes
• Lincoln Jackson posted a career high and game-high 25 points making eight of nine total shots. Jackson also tallied five boards.
• Bridgewater shot an efficient 60.8% from the field and an even better 66.7% rate from three with six makes.
• Jackson, Jahmir Brown, Mi’Kis Engram, and Kyren Smith all scored in double figures.

Up Next

The Eagles are back in action at home against nationally recognized Va. Wesleyan on Feb. 11 at 5 p.m.

— BC Athletics —