RALEIGH, N.C. – The fifth-seeded Brevard College men's basketball team (13-13) fell 66-63 to no. 4 seed William Peace University (13-13) on Tuesday night in the First Round of the USA South Conference Championship Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina.  With the win, William Peace advances to the semifinals of the USA South Conference Tournament at number one seed Mary Baldwin University on Thursday. 
 
Junior Charlie Hester led Brevard with 16 points, including two made 3-pointers and a 6-for-6 showing at the free throw line.  Senior Charles Reed scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds to go along with two assists.  Senior Chancey Watson scored nine points, while KK Horton recorded eight points and a team-high six rebounds.
 
William Peace was led by Timothy Pettiford who scored a game-high 26 points.  Beau Bryant registered 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds for the Pacers.
 
The matchup marked the third meeting between BC and WPU with the two squads splitting the two previous encounters.  Unlike the first two meetings where the road team won by large margins, the ultimate matchup was a back-and-forth affair that came down to the final possessions. 
 
Brevard jumped out to a 9-2 lead on early 4-of-5 shooting from the field to open the contest.  The Pacers battled back before BC pulled away again, stretching its lead to 26-19 on a Watson 3-pointer with five minutes to play before the half.  The Tornados went on to take a 30-26 lead to intermission.
 
The two teams traded the lead several times to start the second half and then found the score tied at 38-38 with 14:28 to play.  A 9-1 WPU run gave the hosts their largest lead and the Pacers maintained the advantage by at least two possessions until a 3-pointer by Reed cut the deficit to 60-58.  WPU hit free throws to later go up 64-60 with 28 seconds to play.  
 
Hester then drained a step-back 3-pointer to cut the Pacers' lead to 64-63 with 18 seconds left.  Two more made free throws by WPU made the score 66-63, giving BC one final chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer.  The Tornados were unable to convert as the Pacers took the victory to advance to the semifinals. 
 
Brevard outshot William Peace 44% to 39% from the field.  WPU made 22 of 25 free throw attempts, compared to a 10-of-13 performance from the line for the Tornados. 
 
In total, the game featured ten lead changes and 12 tied scores with neither team stretching their lead to double figures at any juncture of the contest.
 
BC concluded its season with a 13-13 overall record after going 8-6 in the regular season of USA South Conference play.  The season featured victories over tournament participants Greensboro, N.C. Wesleyan, William Peace and Pfeiffer. 
 
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