Four different Southern Virginia University starters reached double figures, and a last-minute comeback fell just short for the University of Mary Washington men's basketball team in a 78-76 decision in Buena Vista, Va. on Wednesday night in Capital Athletic Conference action. The Eagles slip to 7-9 overall and 3-6 in CAC action.

The early action was back-and-forth, with the Knights scoring the first four points before the Eagles used a John Lutkenhaus three pointer and Eric Shaw basket to knot the score at 5-5 with 15:43 left. After the Knights regained the lead, Lutkenhaus hit another three to give UMW the advantage. Again Southern Virginia answered with a basket to take the lead at 9-8.

With the Eagles holding a 12-9 lead, Southern Virginia answered with a 7-2 run to retake the lead with 7:09 remaining in the first half. Ten straight Knight points gave the hosts a 26-16 lead with 4:28 to go. Southern Virginia led by 10, 34-24, at halftime.

After the second half started with the teams trading baskets to run the margin between nine and 12 points, the Knights scored nine straight to take a 49-31 lead with 14:37 left. A three pointer by the hosts a minute later expanded the lead to 19, but from there UMW would rally.

An 11-2 run would follow, with nine coming from Shaw, and the Eagles trailed by 10, 54-44. TJ Jones scored nine straight Eagle points, and the deficit was down to seven, 62-55, with 7:47 left. Jones sank four straight free throws to cut the score to 67-63 with 5:47 remaining.

With the Eagles trailing by four with 2:04 to go, freshman Mark Madison hit a three pointer to cut the deficit to one, and with 40 seconds left, Jones hit a baseline three pointer to give UMW the lead for the first time in the half, 76-75. But Kevin Walker hit a three pointer for Southern Virginia with 13 seconds left, which provided the winning points.

Jones scored 22 points to lead the Eagles, while Shaw scored 18 points and added nine rebounds. Emerson Burk had 11 points and Lutkenhaus 10 for UMW.

The Eagles shot 35.2% from the field (19-54), making 5-21 three pointers and 33-37 free throws. Southern Virginia shot 51.9% from the field (27-52), making 8-18 three pointers and 16-26 free throws.

Mary Washington will host York College in another CAC contest on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. for Go Out. Be Great. Day, weather permitting.