Haynes Lifts Lions to Victory

MARS HILL, NC. – Kevin Haynes sank the game-winning jumper with 2.7 seconds left as the Mars Hill men's basketball team snapped a four game losing streak with an 84-83 victory over Brevard in a South Atlantic Conference game in Stanford Arena on Wednesday night. With the victory, Mars Hill improves to 4-16 on the season and 2-13 in the league. Brevard drops to 3-16 overall and 3-12 in conference play.

All five Lion starters finished in double figures, with Mars Hill receiving 17 points from Isaiah Cuthbertson, 16 from Carter Wright and Haynes, 12 points from Thomas Anderson and 11 from Devonte Williams.

Darius Moose scored a game high 25 points, with Dominique Pickett scoring 20 points. Trevon Shaw contributed 15 points, with Miles Leathers adding 11.

After two lead changes and three ties in the first five minutes of the game, Brevard pulled out to a 19-12 lead with 12:47 to play in the half. Mars Hill cut the lead to two following a Jalen Witherspoon 3-pointer, but Brevard answered with a layup and free throw by Darius Moose before taking a 25-17 lead to the under-8 media timeout. Mars Hill cut the lead to four, 27-23, before the Tornados opened up the lead to 35-27 with 3:38 to play. The Lions went on an 11-5 run to end the half, with Brevard taking a 40-38 lead to the locker room.

Brevard stretched their lead to 10, 48-38, just over two minutes into the second half before the Lions went on an 8-0 run to trim the Tornado advantage to 48-46. Brevard answered with a trio of layups before Mars Hill pulled ahead 55-54 following a Haynes layup. The Tornados briefly retook the lead thanks to a Shaw bucket before the Lions went on a 15-7 run to take a 70-63 lead with 5:30 remaining. Mars Hill held a three point lead at the final media timeout before Brevard cut the Lion lead to one, 76-75, with 2:57 to go. An Anderson layup extended the Lion lead to three points with 2:32 remaining, only to be answered by a Shaw bucked with 1:49 left.

Shaw brought the Tornados to within one point, 82-81, completing the old fashioned three point play with 43 seconds remaining. After a turnover on the next Lion possession, Shaw was fouled with 12 seconds to play and made both free throws to give Brevard an 83-82 lead. Following a Williams miss, Haynes got the rebound and made what proved to be the game winning shot from just inside the three point line. Will White deflecting the Tornado inbounds pass to seal the victory for Mars Hill.

The game featured five ties and seven lead changes. Brevard shot nearly 51 percent from the floor (30-59), while Mars Hill shot 46.5 percent (33-71). Mars Hill outrebounded Brevard 42-30.

Mars Hill hits the road on Saturday, traveling to Coker for a 4 p.m. start.