STAUNTON, Va. - The Mary Baldwin men's basketball team won Satrday evening in conference action against Pfeiffer University (8-15). The Fighting Squirrels defeated the Falcons in a wild finish 81-80 and are now 8-4 in the USA South conference standings while Pfeiffer falls to 4-8.

With hthe victory, MBU clinched a first-round home game in the conference tournament in just the second season for the Squirrels as a varsity program.

The Squirrels had three players with double digits, Brett Asbury led the Squirrels with a season-high 28 points, shooting 10-of-16 from the field with a team-high eight rebounds to go along with two assists.  Quentin Hart tallied 18 points shooting 6-for-13 from the field and 2-for-7 from three while Brandon Stoudamire scored 10 points.

The Fighting Squirrels fought hard all game as there were 13 lead changes and 17 ties over the course of the game. MBU opened the first half trading baskets and going and back forth with the Falcons until the Falcons' Daniel Fulp made a layup at the buzzer to send the Squirrels into the half down 37-34.

The Falcons came out of the half strong on offense as they quickly moved out to an 11-point lead with 14 minutes to play, However the Squirrels rallied back and took their largest lead of seven poins with five minutes left in the game. The Falcons rallied amd pulled even at 77-77 on a 3-pointer with 1:10 left on the clock. Asbury answered by conversting a three-point play on the next possession, giving the Squirrels an 80-77 lead. After a bucket by Pfeiffer made it a one-point game, MBU's Like Ogle made 1-of-2 at the line, making the score 82-80 with 14 secons left.

Pfeiffer's Daniel Fulp was fouled with 1.5 seconds left and made the front end of the one-and-one. Fulp missed the second free throw and the ball was tipped out toward mdcourt. The Falcons' desparation shot went in but the attempt was ruled to come after the buzzer as the Squirrels escaped with the one-point win. 

MBU shot 47.6% from the field and 23.5% from three compared to the Pacers 47.2% from the field and 18.2% from three. The Falcons outrebounded the Squirrels with 45 rebounds to the Squirrels' 34.

The Fighting Squirrels will return to action Wednesday (Feb, 15th) at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to Greensboro. Greensboro is 10-13 on the season and 5-7 in the USA South Conference.