Central, S.C. - Southern Wesleyan defeated the USC Aiken Pacers in their second match-up this season with a 78-65 win on Tuesday afternoon.

The Warriors shot 48.4% from the field as they went 1-1 with the Pacers this season after picking up a solid win after Christmas break. Clenzo Ross led the team with 21 points to make this his fourth consecutive game with 20+ points. Ta'Jay Dunlap followed with 14 points and TJ Harvin with 12 points. Dunlap and Ross held a combined five of the nine assists and six of the ten steals. Southern Wesleyan tallied 29 rebounds as Cameron Holmes led with eight. Dunlap and Hunter Davis each had five rebounds. Holmes had the lone block of the contest. 

Game Vitals

Final: Southern Wesleyan 78, USC Aiken 65

Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-6) USC Aiken (7-6)

Coach Pasqua Says...

"Couldn't be prouder of how we played in the 2nd half. Our guys played as a team and defended as well as we have all season."

How It Happened

The Pacers took the first lead of the contest with two of the first three baskets. TJ Harvin would tie it at 5-5 with a three from the left side wing. Harvin's second three of the game would give Southern Wesleyan their first lead at 8-7. The Warriors lead would be extended with baskets from Tranard Ferrell and Ta'Jay Dunlap. Jalen Lowery would come up to make back to back 3-pointers to put the Warriors ahead 21-16. The Pacers would tie the game at 28-28 on a free throw from Shaquan Jules midway through the first half. USC Aiken would make a late push to hold a 43-31 lead at the half.

USC Aiken would make the first basket of the second half, but Hunter Davis and Clenzo Ross would quickly answer to put the Warriors down only 38-45. Ross would make a layup to put the Warriors ahead 46-45 and would then force a turnover to shift the momentum in the Warriors favor. Dunlap and Cameron Holmes would extend their lead to 51-45 as the Warriors maintained pressure on defense by holding the Pacers to only one basket in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Ferrell's 3-pointer would put the Warriors on top 62-48 heading into a USC Aiken called time-out. The Pacers would answer out of the time-out as they fought to close the gap. Strong performances from the 3-point line would allow the Warriors to take a 76-63 lead with one minute remaining on the clock. Southern Wesleyan would go on to win the game 78-65.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will begin 2020 with a Conference Carolinas match-up as they welcome the King Tornado to town on January 2 at 7:30 p.m. They will then travel to play the North Greenville Crusaders on January 8 at 7:30 p.m.