Starting guards T.J. Jones, Mark Madison, and Jacob Williams combined for 52 points in leading the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team to an 85-68 victory over Shenandoah University on Saturday night at Ron Rosner Arena at the William M. Anderson Center. Both teams move to 2-1 on the year.
The Hornets took the early lead, scoring the first four points, but UMW answered with 10 of the next 15 points to lead, 10-9, with four minutes gone by. Madison scored five points in the run, with Jones adding a three pointer to put the Eagles on top.
The lead would change hands eight times over the next five minutes, but a pair of Brent Mahony free throws and a Williams three pointer put the Eagles ahead, and they wouldn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the night.
Jumpers from John Lutkenhaus and Madison ran the Eagle lead to seven, at 30-23, with 7:00 remaining in the half, and a Lutkenhaus jumper and three pointer from Haden Thompson closed the half with the Eagles scoring the last five points to take a 37-26 lead to halftime.
Williams opened the second half to run the lead to 14, and added another with 16:43 to return the lead to 14, at 45-31, with 16:43 remaining. The Hornets scored six straight to cut the margin to eight, and after the teams traded baskets, Williams hit yet another three to return the lead to 11 at 50-39.
Shenandoah answered with a layup to cut the score to 50-41, but free throws from Jones and Madison, and a three point play from Asa Scott gave UMW a 7-0 run to push the lead to 16, at 57-41, with 11:28 left.
The lead stayed between 12 and 16 for the next six minutes, and another Eagle 10-2 spurt put the matter away, as Jones hit a three pointer to cap the run to put UMW up, 79-59, with 2:49 to go. The Eagles held on for the 17-point win at 85-68.
Madison led UMW with 22 points on 7-15 shooting from the field, with two three pointers and a 6-6 performance at the free throw line. Jones scored 18 on 5-12 shooting with two three pointers, and he too finished 6-6 at the line.
Williams scored 12 points on 4-6 three point shooting, and grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Asa Scott had nine points and five rebounds, and Johnny Cronin added nine as well.
The Eagles shot 49.1% from the field (28-57), making 10-25 three pointers, and went 19-27 at the free throw line. Shenandoah shot 48.2% (27-56), making 2-15 three pointers and 12-20 free throws, and committed 15 turnovers to just seven for the Eagles. The Hornets held a slim 35-33 advantage in rebounds.
Mary Washington will host Hampden-Sydney College on Sunday at 3:00 p.m., while Shenandoah will face North Carolina Wesleyan at 1 p.m. at the Rosner Arena. Hampden Sydney edged NC Wesleyan, 73-72, in the opener on Saturday.