Box Score Central, S.C. - Southern Wesleyan fell to the Limestone College Saints in the last Conference Carolinas match-up of the season on Friday evening in a final score of 97-71.
Jemiah Wimphrie led the Warriors with 26 points in the loss. He was followed by Darius Sharpe with 13 and De'Quan Weldon with 11. Southern Wesleyan posted a 44.3% field goal percentage and went 11-17 at the free throw line. Dj Dobson led the Warriors in assists with seven of the 14 made. He was followed by Wimphrie, Weldon, and Jeremy Wert with two apiece.
Southern Wesleyan posted 32 rebounds compared to the 35 made by the Saints. Wimphrie and Justice McCullough led the team with nine rebounds apiece. McCullough and Weldon each had a block against the Saints. Sharpe and Wimphrie each had a steal in the loss.
Game Vitals
Final: Limestone 97, Southern Wesleyan 71
Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-25/CC 2-18), Limestone (23-5/CC 17-3)
Coach Wimphrie Says...
"We gave a great effort tonight. Limestone's match up zone confused us. In order to execute against the zone the ball must move. At times we held the ball or took quick shots which allowed them to play their game. They couldn't stop our inside game. Jemiah Wimphrie played a great game. I was proud of his effort. It's been a difficult year but the team never gave up. I'm proud of them for their efforts."
How It Happened
Teron Wallace of the Saints struck first in the contest on Friday evening. The Saints scored again before Jemiah Wimphrie made a layup to put the Warriors on the board. Darius Sharpe added to the Warriors score with a pair of free throws and a jump shot to only trail by two at 8-6. A 3-pointer from Jeremy Wert gave the Warriors their first lead at 11-10 before the Saints rallied back to regain the lead. Back-to-back lay-ups from Wimphrie and one from Justice McCullough kept the Warriors neck and neck with the Saints as they only trailed by two at 19-17. The Saints gained the momentum and rallied with several shots from Shaq Dance and Kenny Hairston to lead 48-26 at the half.
The Saints came out strong in the second half making three baskets and a free throw before De'Quan Weldon responded with a 3-pointer bringing the score to 55-29. Sharpe and Wimphrie made several free throws to battle for the Warriors, while Wimphrie also added several lay-ups and a jump shot to put the Warriors trailing 73-58. Back-to-back shots from Sharpe and a jumper from McCullough made it 82-65. Despite the late shots from Dj Dobson and Weldon, the Saints were able to maintain the lead and win 97-71.
Senior Night
Southern Wesleyan recognized their three seniors before the start of the game on Friday night. Leading off the senior celebration is Darius Sharpe. Sharpe is from Jacksonville, Florida and will graduate with a degree in Business Administration in May of 2017. He hit a career high on Tuesday, February 21 when he scored is 1000 career point. Sharpe is followed by Jemiah Wimphrie from Central, South Carolina. Wimphrie will graduate in May of 2017 with a degree in Sports Management. Tyus Gaines is the last Warrior being recognized for Senior Night. The senior from Central, South Carolina played a year at Spartanburg Methodist College before coming to Southern Wesleyan. He will graduate in December with a degree in Recreation and Sports Management.