By Benton Heck, Sports Info. Student Assistant

FERRUM, Virginia -- Ferrum College dropped an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) men's basketball game to Bridgewater College this evening, falling 82-74 in overtime at Swartz Gymnasium. 

RECORDS
Bridgewater (7-8, 3-4 ODAC)
Ferrum (5-11, 0-7 ODAC)

THE BASICS
A Darius Kemp layup opened the scoring for both teams after going scoreless for the first two and a half minutes of play. Both teams traded baskets before an Alec Topper layup sparked a 15-2 run, giving the Eagles a 22-10 lead. Taqwain Drummond hit a baseline jumper to end Ferrum's scoring drought. Bridgewater would outscore the Panthers 16-15 in the final five minutes of the half to take a 41-27 lead at halftime. Bryce Hall hit a behind the back shot on the baseline after a missed Kemp free throw before the buzzer sounded.

Ferrum opened the second half hot, with Jamar Butler scoring seven straight points and Hall adding two layups of his own, pulling the Panthers to within four. Ferrum and Bridgewater would trade baskets over the next five minutes, before a Hall three-pointer gave the Panthers a 50-49 lead.

The final ten minutes of play produced four lead changes and three ties. Ferrum had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a baseline jumper from Hunter Ladler was off the mark.

Tied at 69 after regulation, Ferrum and Bridgewater headed to overtime. Rashod Smith got things started in overtime for the Eagles with a layup off the ensuing tip-off. Bridgweater used an 11-2 run to close out the game. Smith and Topper would combine for 11 of their team's 13 points in OT, to guide them to victory.

KEY STATS
Ferrum: Kemp 13 pts, 7 reb; Butler 13 pts, 4 reb; James Smith Jr. 13 pts
Bridgewater: Topper 26 pts, 11 reb; Smith 22 pts, 7 ast, 6 reb; Andy Pack 14 pts

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"Great effort in the second half. Proud of the way we fought to get back in the game and force overtime. We have to stop spotting teams points in the first half and beating ourselves. Basketball is simple; you have to defend and rebound at a high level, especially in our league. You also have to take care of the ball. When we take those aspects personally; we will put ourselves in games." --Head Coach Tyler Sanborn

NEXT UP
Sanborn's team will go on the road to face ODAC foe Washington and Lee University Wednesday, January 26, at 7:00 pm in Lexington, Virginia.