UMW Men’s Basketball Falls at Bridgewater, 84-80, on Wednesday Evening

UMW Men’s Basketball Falls at Bridgewater, 84-80, on Wednesday Evening

The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team fell to Bridgewater, 84-80, on Wednesday evening in Harrisonburg, VA. The Eagles slip to 4-1 overall on the season.

UMW got out to a fast start in the game as they scored the first seven points of the game, Da'Shawn Cook accounting for five of those in the first three minutes. Bridgewater went on a run over the next five minutes and took a 14-13 advantage. With 9:30 to play, UMW jumped back ahead, 21-17, as Drew Johnson knocked down a jumper. 

From there, Bridgewater scored 12 straight points and held a 29-21 lead with 7:06 to play in the half. Bridgewater grew their lead to double digits, 36-23, with 5:23 left. The Eagles then went on a tear from there as they went on a 14-1 run to tie the game up at 37 a piece. UMW didn't stop there as they kept scoring and took a 50-44 lead at the half as Johnson closed out the half for the Eagles with a layup. 

Bridgewater began the second half with a 10-3 run to tie the game at 54-54. With UMW down one, Greg Rowson and Cook nailed back-to-back three-pointers to put the Eagles up five, 61-56, with 14:42 left. Ra'Shawn Cook grew the Eagles' lead to six as he made a pull-up jumper with 11:19 to play. 

Bridgwater kept the game close and managed to take the lead 74-69 with 6:59 left in the game. Anias Saunders tied the game at 75 a piece as he scooped home a layup with just under four and a half minutes remaining. Bridgewater knocked down two three-pointers and two free throws to go up 83-77 with 23 seconds left. Saunders then came down the court and nailed a three-pointer to pull within just three. After a missed free throw, the Eagles had a chance to tie the game up but the game-tying three-pointer came up just long and Bridgewater held on to win 84-80.

Saunders led the team with 18 points on 7-12 shooting from the field. Cook added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Johnson recorded another double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Rowson and Trey Barber both scored 12 points a piece.

UMW shot 32-81 (39.5%) from the field, 8-32 (25.0%) from three-point range, and 8-10 (80.0%) from the free throw line. UMW out-rebounded BC 48-46 on the night.

The Eagles will be back in action on Friday as they will take on another ODAC foe in Lynchburg as part of the CNU Classic.