HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – Sophomore DeJuan Smith scored a team-high 18 points and made two key free throws with 17 seconds to play leading Albright to an 87-83 victory over William Peace in the Lions opening round game of the Luck Stone Holiday Tournament.

With the victory, Albright advances to the championship game where it will meet the host Hampden-Sydney at 4 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 20).

Chris Thomas connected on a three-pointer for William Peace that cut the Albright lead to 84-83 with 36 seconds to play and the Pacers intentionally fouled freshman Jayson Clark. Clark missed the free throw attempt, but senior Evan Ward collected a crucial offensive rebound and then William Peace was forced to foul Smith who is the Lions top free throw shooter.

Smith calmly knocked down both free throws to extend the Lions lead to 86-83 with 17 seconds remaining in the game.

Clark redeemed himself by making a steal on the Pacers next trip down the floor and making 1-of-2 free throws to seal the victory for the Lions.

Dakota King gave the Pacers a 78-77 lead with a layup with 5:14 to play in the game, but Albright would hold William Peace to one basket over a 4:38 stretch to regain the lead for good.

Jaylin Calloway put Albright ahead to stay with a layup with 4:26 remaining and Ward scored five straight points that gave the Lions an 84-80 lead with 48 seconds to play.

Smith finished with 18 points to lead five players in double figures for the Lions. Ward finished with a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Omari Ringgold, Clark and Brandon Lindsay each added 12 points for Albright.

Junior Calvert Gantz added eight points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots for Albright.

Thomas led William Peace with a game-high 21 points and King added 14 points, while Tyquan Nolan finished with 12 points and Terry Rogers added 11 points.

Albright, which improved to 3-5 overall, shot 50.8 percent from the floor for the game. William Peace dropped to 5-4 overall with the loss.

The second half was tightly contested and featured six ties and six lead changes.

Albright took its largest lead of the second half behind the long-range shooting of Lindsay. He hit two three-pointers and also added a layup during a 10-3 Albright run that gave the Lions a 73-65 lead with 9:19 to play in the game.

Thomas then single-handedly brought William Peace back as he scored nine consecutive points that gave the Pacers a 74-73 lead with 7:45 to play in the contest.

A three-point play by Clark put Albright in front 77-76 before King gave William Peace its final lead of the game with a layup with 5:14 to play.

William Peace used a big run midway through the first half to take a 23-14 lead.

Trailing 11-9 following a free throw by Smith, the Pacers ripped off a 14-3 run to take a 23-14 lead with 11:19 to play in the opening half.

Albright quickly countered behind the play of Calloway and Ringgold. A layup and a three-pointer by Calloway cut the lead to 23-19 and Ringgold followed with a three-pointer and two free throws giving the Lions a 24-23 lead with 9:41 left in the first half.

Thomas Vazzana capped the 12-0 run with a layup that increased the Albright lead to 26-23 with 9:10 remaining prior to halftime.

William Peace regained the lead at 28-26 on a three-pointer by Ryan Emfinger with 7:58 to play in the first half.

A 5-0 run by Albright, highlighted by a three-pointer by Ward, gave the Lions a 31-28 lead with 6:34 left in the first period.

Albright then used a late run to take a lead into halftime.

Lindsay came off the bench to score four points during an 11-3 Albright run that gave the Lions a 46-38 lead with 48 seconds to play in the opening half.

King connected on a three-pointer with 25 seconds to play cutting the Albright lead to 46-41 at halftime.