BUENA VISTA, VA. - Senior Eric Joe scored 18 points to lead four in double figures for the Apprentice School as they defeated Southern Virginia University 70-61 in a key U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association matchup on Saturday.
This was the first win for the Builders at Southern Virginia since February 5, 2005 when they knocked off SVU 72-68. The Knights had won the last four meetings by an average of 12 points.
Southern Virginia (12-7) entered the game ranked second in the latest USCAA Coaches Poll, while the Apprentice School (10-11) entered ninth. Bids to the 2010 USCAA National Championships are to be extended on Thursday to eight teams.
SVU started the game on a 10-2 run over the first 3:39 as Terell Johnson hit a pair of free throws for a 10-2 lead. Apprentice School tied the game 16-all on a bucket by sophomore Isaih Harrison with 10:51 remaining. The score was tied again at 28-all on a free throw from Chris Hearn and 30-all on a Dewayne Beamon bucket with 2:39 left.
Marquis Williamson hit a pair of free throws for the hosts to go up 32-30 with 2:19 remaining, for what turned into the last lead of the game for Southern Virginia. A Tevin Andrews jumper 17 seconds later tied the game and a Chris Hearn free throw put the Builders ahead to stay at 33-32 with 88 seconds left in the half.
In the second half, Apprentice School stretched the lead to 50-39 at the 11:01 mark on a Tim Johnson stickback. SVU went on a 10-3 run to cut the lead to 53-49 on a Cory Evans 3-pointer with 6:04 left, but that was as close as the Knights got. Apprentice School quickly pushed the lead back to 10 points on a free throw from Harrison with 4:23 left.
Andrews and Johnson added 15 points apiece for the Builders while Harrison had another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Ade Swann topped SVU with 18 points, while Marquis Williamson added 11.
Apprentice School now will take on Washington Adventist University on Monday night at 6 pm at Virginia Wesleyan College.