FERRUM, Virginia -- The Ferrum College men's basketball team weathered a strong comeback effort from Bridgewater College to earn their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference victory of the season, 65-62. 

RECORDS
Ferrum (2-3, 1-2 ODAC)
Bridgewater (2-2, 2-1 ODAC)

THE BASICS
The Panthers opened the game on a 16-4 run spanning a little over six minutes. Ferrum's lead was extended to as much as 14 with a Bryce Hall trey with just 5:12 to play in the first stanza, but Bridgewater would not allow the game to get too far out of hand. Two Zach Hatter free throws brought the Eagles within seven with :51.0 left in the half. Ferrum would then take a 36-26 lead into the midway break with a free throw from Kalip Jones.

Darius Kemp was off to a phenomenal start in the first half, scoring 15 points on 6-10 shooting from the field. Kajuan Madden-McAfee had a big first half as well for the Panthers, recording six points and 10 rebounds. Carrington Young came up big for Ferrum as well when the Eagles dropped back in a zone on defense, as the Panther forward notched four assists in the half. It was a balanced scoring half for Bridgewater with David Oliveras leading the way with six points. Chandler Murray and Matt Ciccone each had four rebounds for the Eagles.

Three Nick Helton treys to start the second half quickly jumped the Panther lead to 45-28. Andy Pack would end the Ferrum run with a three of his own, but a Kemp free throw would push the advantage to 46-31 with 17:06. Bridgewater would then go on a 17-0 run spanning over six minutes to take a 48-46 lead. Ferrum would quickly regain the lead and hold it until the 2:55 mark when Ciccone would convert an layup to put the Eagles back up one. A Young layup would be the answer the Panthers were looking for with 2:00 to play, and Ferrum would not give the lead back the rest of the way. Two Madden-McAfee free throws would ice it with just :2.3 left.

Helton was the hot hand for the Panthers in the second half, picking up 12 points on 4-8 shooting from downtown. Kemp and Madden-McAfee each added five points, and Jones had three dimes to round out the Ferrum offense. Alec Topper was key for the Eagle comeback bid in the closing stanza as he recorded 11 points and seven boards. Pack was close behind with seven points, and Oliveras had a solid line of four points, four rebounds and three assists.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Kemp 20 pts, 5 reb; Helton 14 pts; Madden-McAfee 11 pts, 12 reb
Bridgewater: Topper 15 pts, 8 reb; Oliveras 10 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast; Ciccone 6 pts, 7 reb

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"Good team win today. We did much better with the details and it showed with our production. I am proud of the guys and glad that we could experience some success. Also, I am happy with our resolve down the stretch to close out the game" --Head Coach Tyler Sanborn

UP NEXT
Coach Sanborn's squad welcomes the Tigers of Hampden-Sydney College to Swartz Gymnasium Tuesday, February 2. The ODAC contest is set for a 7 p.m. tip.