JENNINGS LEADS RAMS PAST WEST LIBERTY

WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. -- Mark Jennings (North County (Hagerstown CC)/Glen Burnie, MD) scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Shepherd College (12-16) to a 82-76 win over West Liberty in first round action of the WVIAC Men's Basketball Tournament at West Liberty on Tuesday night. The triumph earns Shepherd its first trip to the Charleston Civic Center since 1998.

Dorian Sims (Reading Central Catholic/Reading, PA) scored all of his 15 points in the second half. Sims had several key baskets down the stretch including a four-point play in overtime to key the Ram victory. Keith Fanjoy (Hammond (Howard CC)/Columbia, MD) added 11 points and five rebounds, and Kevin Newsome (Archbishop Carroll/Washington, DC) dished out a game-high eight assists while adding nine rebounds, five points, and a pair of steals.

The Hilltoppers (11-16) were led by Brice Mills and J.T. Hoyng with 20 points each.

Shepherd advances to face number one seed Salem International in Charleston on Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.