Pfeiffer Comeback Bid Falls Just Short Against Averett
Misenheimer, N.C. (Feb. 15, 2022) – The Pfeiffer University men's basketball team erased a 23-point halftime deficit, but a late basket by visiting Averett University allowed the Cougars to escape Merner Gym with an 83-81 win on Tuesday night at a rowdy Merner Gym.
In the first half, Averett stormed out of the gate, taking an early 14-3 lead, forcing Pfeiffer to call a timeout at the 16:26 mark. Averett's lead would continue their first half onslaught, as they shot a robust 67.6% (23-of-34) from the field and an equally impressive 62.5% (5-of-8) from three-point range, taking the 52-29 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half, Pfeiffer came alive, chipping away at the Cougar lead, cutting it to just nine points (57-48) following a layup from
D.J. Bradsher (Burlington, N.C.), capping a 19-5 run over the first 6:15 of the half.
Averett would keep the Falcons at arm's distance, building the lead to 65-55 with 9:12 remaining.
Pfeiffer would get to within 65-59 only to see Averett once again bolt ahead by 11 points (70-59) with 5:56 left.
The Falcons would mount a charge, going on another run, this one an 18-9 run that put Peiffer ahead 77-74 following a pair of
Dorian Miles (Greenville, S.C.) free throws with 2:13 left.
A pair of
Jerome Savoy (Waldorf, Md.) free throws gave Pfeiffer the 79-77 lead with 1:37 remaining, but Averett was able to tie the game following a Jason Sellars basket at 1:12 and then took the lead following a Pfeiffer turnover with 32 seconds remaining on a Jalen Rowell jumper.
Brasher was able to knife through the Cougar defense to tie it once more at 81-81 with 21 seconds left.
Averett then came down the floor in the waning seconds and following a Jordan Lewis miss from long range, Sellars got the rebound in traffic and was able to make the layup with 1.4 seconds to go.
Pfeiffer's last second heave from 75 feet was off the mark sending Averett to the narrow 83-81 win, clinching the USA South East Division title in the process.
The Falcons got 20 points from Savoy while Miles had 17 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Bradsher finished with 16 points while fellow seniors
Craig Sabb (Goose Creek, S.C.) and
Taylan Rowe (Oakboro, N.C.) completed the game with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
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Averett's Jordan Lewis and Jalen Rowell each scored 18 points in the win.
The loss drops Pfeiffer to 11-9 overall and 8-4 in USA South play while Averett improves to 14-9 and 11-1 in league play.
The Falcons will take to the road for their final two regular season games, the first of which is scheduled for a 7:30 tipoff on Thursday, Feb. 17 against Methodist in Fayetteville, N.C.
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