Jan 03, 2011
HARRISONBURG, VA. -- Last year the Runnin Royals were the new kids on the block. This year Ferrum might just be the team to fill that role. But Monday night Eastern Mennonite showed it still had the poise from last season, as the men held a small edge most of the game and scored six of the final seven points to take an 85-79 win over the previously unbeaten Panthers.
After Ferrum grabbed an early 7-4 lead, the Runnin Royals took the lead for good at 9-8 just over three minutes into the game. That triggered a 9-0 run putting the men up 16-8.
The lead grew to as many as 12 in the first half and rested at seven at the break, 46-39, as George Johnson (Richmond, Va./Miller School) nailed his third triple just seconds before halftime.
EMU opened the second on an 8-2 run, taking their biggest lead of the game at 54-41 when Johnson hit two free throws with 16:37 to play.
But the visiting Panthers were not done. They quickly scored eight unanswered and kept slicing the lead all the way down to 58-57 just over five minutes later.
The Royals kept their composure and rebuilt an eight-point cushion before Ferrum made it 79-78 after a three pointer with 1:02 remaining.
Eli Crawford (Staunton, Va./R.E. Lee) then got free inside for a layup. After a big defensive stop, Crawford added a pair of free throws to make it 83-78 with 16 seconds left.
Ferrum got a single free throw with 10 ticks to go, and Todd Phillips (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro) iced it with two more charity tosses with six seconds remaining.
Phillips was a dominating force in the win, chalking up a game high 25 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Johnson added 21 points as he nailed five three pointers.
Crawford added 13 and three assists while Orie Pancione (Augusta, WV/Hampshire) was good for 10 points and five rebounds.
Eastern Mennonite shot only 42% in the win, compared to 52% for Ferrum. The men were also just 6-25 from long range and were outrebounded 43-29.
The game was decided in two areas: turnovers and free throws. The Panthers had 18 turnovers compared to 10 for EMU. The Runnin Royals made a living at the free throw line, hitting 23 of 27 attempts. Ferrum was just 5-9.
"Anytime you beat a team as good as that, you have to be happy," EMU Coach Kirby Dean said afterwards. "There is a reason they were 11-0."
Derek Mitchell (Newport News, Va./Heritage) led five Panthers in double figures with 19 points and a game high 14 rebounds.
Eastern Mennonite defends its No. 9 national ranking with the win and moves to 9-1 overall. Ferrum has its program-record winning streak snapped as they fall to 11-1. It was also the first loss in seven tries against Old Dominion Athletic Conference teams.
Dean said his team needs to improve drastically in one area if they want to reach their potential.
"Other than George (Johnson), no one can make threes," he said. "Someone else is going to have to make some shots."
After Ferrum grabbed an early 7-4 lead, the Runnin Royals took the lead for good at 9-8 just over three minutes into the game. That triggered a 9-0 run putting the men up 16-8.
The lead grew to as many as 12 in the first half and rested at seven at the break, 46-39, as George Johnson (Richmond, Va./Miller School) nailed his third triple just seconds before halftime.
EMU opened the second on an 8-2 run, taking their biggest lead of the game at 54-41 when Johnson hit two free throws with 16:37 to play.
But the visiting Panthers were not done. They quickly scored eight unanswered and kept slicing the lead all the way down to 58-57 just over five minutes later.
The Royals kept their composure and rebuilt an eight-point cushion before Ferrum made it 79-78 after a three pointer with 1:02 remaining.
Eli Crawford (Staunton, Va./R.E. Lee) then got free inside for a layup. After a big defensive stop, Crawford added a pair of free throws to make it 83-78 with 16 seconds left.
Ferrum got a single free throw with 10 ticks to go, and Todd Phillips (Waynesboro, Va./Waynesboro) iced it with two more charity tosses with six seconds remaining.
Phillips was a dominating force in the win, chalking up a game high 25 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Johnson added 21 points as he nailed five three pointers.
Crawford added 13 and three assists while Orie Pancione (Augusta, WV/Hampshire) was good for 10 points and five rebounds.
Eastern Mennonite shot only 42% in the win, compared to 52% for Ferrum. The men were also just 6-25 from long range and were outrebounded 43-29.
The game was decided in two areas: turnovers and free throws. The Panthers had 18 turnovers compared to 10 for EMU. The Runnin Royals made a living at the free throw line, hitting 23 of 27 attempts. Ferrum was just 5-9.
"Anytime you beat a team as good as that, you have to be happy," EMU Coach Kirby Dean said afterwards. "There is a reason they were 11-0."
Derek Mitchell (Newport News, Va./Heritage) led five Panthers in double figures with 19 points and a game high 14 rebounds.
Eastern Mennonite defends its No. 9 national ranking with the win and moves to 9-1 overall. Ferrum has its program-record winning streak snapped as they fall to 11-1. It was also the first loss in seven tries against Old Dominion Athletic Conference teams.
Dean said his team needs to improve drastically in one area if they want to reach their potential.
"Other than George (Johnson), no one can make threes," he said. "Someone else is going to have to make some shots."
In 2009-10, EMU shot 36.4% from long range. This year, with largely the same players, the men are hitting just 30.7% of their three-point attempts.
The Royals, 2-1 in the league, return to ODAC play Wednesday night when they play at Washington & Lee. Game time in Lexington is 7:00pm.
The Royals, 2-1 in the league, return to ODAC play Wednesday night when they play at Washington & Lee. Game time in Lexington is 7:00pm.