Box Score BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- The William Peace University Men's basketball team improved to 4-1 on the year after beating Bridgewater College, 80-77 on Sunday. The Pacers are off to the best start in program history at 4-1 and have beat three ODAC opponents to start the year.

Bridgewater College got off to a fast start taking a 23-13 lead 10 minutes into the first half. Head Coach Claude Shields called for a timeout to refocus the team and a new team emerged from the break. The Pacers started the comeback and slowly chipped away at the Eagles lead. Jalen Vince tied the game at 31-31 with 2:40 remaining in the first half. The Pacers forced a turnover on Bridewater's next possession and Jay Hicks knocked down a three to give WPU a three-point lead with 2:16 to go in the first half. William Peace headed into the locker room up 36-34 after going on a 23-11 run to end the half.

William Peace continued to pour on the points in the second half growing the lead to 13 points with 11:18 left in the game.

Then it was the Eagles turn to make a run. Bridewater nearly closed the gap with excellent free-throw shooting and tight defense down the stretch. Coach Shields called a timeout after the Eagles cut the lead to four with just over three minutes remaining.

"We told our guys to get back to the basics of defense -- communicating, being in the correct position and finishing possessions with a box out," Shields said. "We knew we could get great shots on offense, but to finish we'd have to do it on the defensive end."

On the Pacers next possession Ryan Emfinger made a tough shot and drew a foul on the play. He drilled the free throw to complete the three-point play. Bridewater wouldn't be discouraged, though. Bryce Boggs made a couple free throws and a layup to cut the lead to two points. Jalen Vince made the front end of two free throws on the Pacers next possession, but Boggs came down and made a step-back jumper at the free-throw line to cut the Pacers lead to one, 78-77, with just 27 seconds left. Bridgewater called a timeout following the basket.

The Pacers inbounded the ball and got it to Chris Thomas' hands for the impending foul. Thomas made both of the free throws to give William Peace a three-point edge with 18 seconds remaining. Bridgewater drew up a play to run a corner three and got the look it wanted. The shot rimmed out and the Pacers recovered the rebound to win the game.

BIG PICTURE

William Peace is off to the best start in program history at 4-1. The team is led by a trio of veterans in Jalen Vince, Chris Thomas and Ryan Emfinger. The seniors are averaging over 40 points per game combined. The Pacers have won three straight games and have only lost to nationally-ranked Emory.

"This year's team has tremendous balance to it," Shields said. "We can play a lot of guys and really try to wear other teams down. The most important part is they are a tremendous group of young men on and off the court who have fun every single day."

BY THE NUMBERS

Chris Thomas and Ryan Emfinger each had 21 points in the Pacers victory over the Eagles. It's a season-high mark for Emfinger who was 7-of-10 from the floor and made 6-of-7 free throws. Thomas shot 5-of-10 from the floor and was a perfect 9-of-9 from the charity stripe, including the Pacers last two points, which were vital free throws.

Freshman Jay Hicks scored nine points off the bench and added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks with no turnovers.

UP NEXT

The Pacers travel to Randolph-Macon on Wednesday for a 7 p,m. tipoff.