W&M Men's Basketball Falls at Liberty, 62-61

Tribe Rookie Jack Jenkins Leads All Scorers With 20 Points

11/26/02

LYNCHBURG, VA - Liberty’s Jason Sarchet knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:14 left in the game and the Flames kept W&M from scoring the rest of the way, defeating the Tribe, 62-61, in men’s basketball action at the Vines Center this evening. W&M’s second straight one-point loss drops the Tribe’s record to 0-3 this season, while Liberty improves to 1-1.

The game was close in the early stages, with W&M leading, 13-10, with 12:15 remaining in the first. Rookie forward Jack Jenkins (Boston, MA) led the way, scoring seven of his game-high 20 points in less than three minutes to push the Tribe to a three-point lead. The advantage would be short-lived, as the Flames went on an 18-5 run in the next six minutes, taking a 28-18, 10-point lead, the largest margin for either team in the contest. The Tribe hung in and cut the lead to six, 32-26, at the intermission.

Less than three minutes into the second half W&M tied the contest, with Jenkins again leading the Tribe’s run, tying the game at 34 with a three-point field goal at the 17:08 mark. The College surged ahead in the middle portion of the second half, leading by as many as six points. Liberty kept the game close, however, and with 7:25 remaining, took a one-point, 52-51, lead on a pair of free throws by Vincent Okotie. It was a sign of things to come, as the Flames made just two field goals but hit on all six of their ensuing free throws (shooting 10-10 from the line overall in the half) to close out a 62-61 win.

After scoring just two points in the season opener and not playing at all in the second game, Jenkins came off the bench to lead all scorers with 20 points, including four of six shooting from behind the three-point line. Junior forward Adam Hess (Grosse Pointe, MI) was close behind with 19 points, just missing his second straight double-double with a game-high nine rebounds. In another solid defensive role, senior center Adam Duggins (Greensboro, NC) had eight rebounds, three blocks and a career high four steals to go with his six points. Okotie led Liberty with 12 points, Jeremy Monceaux had 11 and Gabe Martin came off the bench with 10 for the Flames. W&M out rebounded LU, 34-30.

The Tribe will look to bounce back and earn its first win of the season this Saturday, November 30, with a 7:00 PM tip-off at East Carolina.