Slow start dooms SM in WAC loss to Devils

Brian Foster led the Blue Devils with 19 points. Will Davis added 16 while Andre Hemphill and Andrew Jones both netted 13.

Justin Roper paced the Mustangs (7-7, 1-4), who dropped their fifth straight game, with 16 points. Lance Gabbard finished with 11, and Luke Bell had 10.

"If we could eliminate the first quarter, it was a pretty even game," Coach Scott Hartbarger said. "We outscored them 45-43 in the second half, and that's what we're going to build on. We can win five in a row as easily as we can lose five in a row and make a run at the state playoffs."

Brevard got off to a fast start and jumped to a 13-2 lead in the first four minutes. Davis scored five, and Hemphill had four in the spurt.

Hemphill's steal and layup made it 18-4 at the 1:43 mark, and the margin was 20-8 at the quarter break.

Foster's basket built the lead to 26-8 with 3:38 to go in the half as SM went nearly five minutes of the second period without scoring.

The Devils were on top 32-16 at intermission.

The biggest lead of the night was 41-18 when Ben Cozart connected with 5:06 to play in the third period, which ended with Brevard up 49-31.

SM cut the gap to 65-54 with 1:55 left in the game but could come no closer.

Roper made five field goals, including two three-pointers, and four free throws. Gabbard and Bell both connected on four field goals and hit three and two free throws, respectively.

Kyle Clayton finished with eight points, Ritchie followed with six, Jeff Davis scored four, and Allen Sutton and Jason Bennett both had three. Clayton and Bell each claimed six rebounds.

The Mustang JVs are 9-1 after a 50-30 victory. Patrick McChesney had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

"We had a great game from Ryan Watson and Nathan Medlin," Coach Jimmy Roper said. "We had balanced scoring, and it was our best defensive game of the year."

SM led at quarter breaks by scores of 15-10, 28-12 and 45-20.

Back to Sports: 01/18/01.