MARS HILL, N.C. - Junior Shelby Parris (Burlington, N.J.) netted 20 points as the Brevard College Men's Basketball team (2-15, 0-11 SAC) fell to Mars Hill (3-14, 2-9 SAC), 82-68 on Wednesday night.
Brevard shot 41.5 percent from the field while scoring 17 points off turnovers. Parris finished 7-12 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range to lead the Tornados. Freshman JaMarquis Johnson had another solid night for Brevard, as the guard finished with 15 points. Omar El Diraoui (Beirut, Lebanon) posted 14 points finishing 3-8 from the field and 7-12 from the free-throw line. The senior also recorded two blocks and a team-high five assists. Junior Stevie Williams (High Point, N.C.) also reached double-figures, finishing with 10 points.
The Lions benefited off 20-second chance points during the contests. Collin Hartman led the Lions with 14 points finishing a perfect 5-5 from the field. Charles Moore posted 11 points while dishing out three assists. Bennett Wilson was the only other Lion in double-figures, finishing with 13 points.
Parris put the Tornados on the board in the first half after coming away with a steal, the junior connected from behind the arc to put Brevard ahead 3-2. Omar El Diraoui scored the next four points for the Tornados, as the senior added a three, and then went 1-2 from the foul line on the next possession.
Mars Hill went on a 14-0 run as Dotson Griffin added a dunk to put the Lions up 17-30 with six minutes remaining in the first half.
Quadhafi Turner (Wilmington, N.C.) put the Tornados within 12 points at the three-minute mark after scoring a layup courtesy of an El Diraoui assist.
The Lions entered halftime with a 47-27 advantage as Grant Clarke scored the final two points of the first half.
Brevard came out strong from halftime, shooting 50 percent from the field. The Tornados went on a 6-0 run to begin the half after back-to-back three's from D.J. Bostick (Marietta, Ga.) and Parris.
Johnson cut Mars Hill's lead to 13 as the freshman hit a three-pointer with 15 minutes remaining in the contest.
Makyle Wilkerson hit a jumper to put the score at 42-57 before Johnson hit another jumper to bring Brevard back within 12 points.
The Lions maintained a solid lead until the seven-minute mark, as Stevie Williams hit a layup to put Brevard within 11.
Mars Hill went on an 8-0 run as Luke Van-Rijn hit a three to put the Lions up 76-56 with five minutes remaining.
Brevard battled hard until the buzzer as Johnson scored a layup in the final minute of the game to put the Tornados with 13 points. However, Mars Hill would come away with the victory, winning 82-68.
The Tornados will be back in action this Saturday, Jan. 21, as they host Lenoir-Rhyne beginning at 4 pm.
