Onyie Onunaku's off-balance eight-footer at the buzzer propelled Shenandoah University to a 91-89 victory over Eastern Mennonite University in non-conference men's basketball action on Tuesday evening in Harrisonburg, Va.

Shenandoah (2-1) held a 49-42 edge at the break only to see EMU (1-1) open the second half on a 16-7 run to take the lead at 58-56 with 13:04 remaining. The Royals capped the burst with back-to-back lay-ups by freshman guard LeRoger Parrish (Danville, Va.).

After several lead changes, the Hornets reeled off a 9-1 run to grab an eight-point lead. Trailing 73-65 with 6:48 remaining, the Royals made their push to get back in the game. Junior forward Jason Sager (Edinburg, Va.) sank two free throws to cut it to six. Then the EMU pressing defense forced back-to-back turnovers with sophomore Korey Whiting (Stafford, Va.) and Sager converting consecutive steals into lay-ups to cut the lead to two. A few minutes later, EMU took its first lead in nine minutes on a three-point field goal by Whiting.

The Royals took a four-point lead with 1:57 remaining on a jumper by Whiting. However, junior guard Antwon Townsend (Arlington, Va.) nailed a three-pointer for the Hornets and sophomore Brad Parkes (Winchester, Va.) had his layup for EMU blocked by Shenandoah sophomore Jeremiah Lawrence (Forestville, Md.). Senior guard Jared Hale (Centreville, Md.) responded with another three for the Hornets to grab an 89-87 lead.

With nine seconds remaining, Whiting found Sager under the basket for a layup to tie the score at 89-89 and setting up Onunaku's last-second heroics. Onunaku (Bristow, Va.) dribbled from the left side towards the paint, lost his balance, and threw up a leaning jumper as the game clock expired. The ball swished through the hoop to give Shenandoah the 91-89 victory.

The win was the fourth straight for the Hornets against the Royals. Last year's contest was also a two-point game with the Hornets winning 65-63 in Winchester. Both teams had hot shooting touches from the floor with the Hornets shooting 58.3% for the game and 60% from the three-point arch on 9-of-15 shooting. The Royals shot 50.8% for the game and went 8-for-14 from the arch for 57.1% accuracy.

EMU held a 35-33 rebounding edge and accumulated 16 steals but the Royals committed 11 unforced turnovers and shot just 5-of-13 at the free throw line in the first half.

Junior guard Mouktar Fawehinmi (Adelphi, Md.) went all 40 minutes for Shenandoah with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting with 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Onunaku finished with 19 points, six boards, two assists and three blocks. Townsend had 15 points for the Hornets and junior guard Quan Griffin (Baltimore, Md.) added 10.

Sager had 22 points for EMU, including 16 in the second half. He added six boards, two assists and four steals. Whiting also had 22 for EMU along with five boards, two assists, and seven steals. Parrish added 11 points for the Royals.

EMU will be back in action this weekend in the Don Glick Invitational at Bridgewater College. The Royals battle Greensboro College on Saturday at 8 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. match-up with Lancaster Bible College on Sunday. Both games will be broadcast live on Royals Audio.