Central, S.C. - Southern Wesleyan defeated the Erskine Flying Fleet in an 83-73 final on Tuesday evening. 

The Warriors shot 53.8% from the field in the win. Solomon Smith led the team with 22 points and he was followed by senior Clenzo Ross with 19, Ta'Jay Dunlap with 16, and Jalen Lowery with 12 points. Senior Cameron Holmes and Ross each had four assists, while Holmes had two blocks and Hunter Davis had one. Lowery and Edwon Brady each had two steals of the Warriors five. The team had 29 rebounds with Smith leading the team with seven and Holmes following with six.

Game Vitals

Final: Southern Wesleyan 83, Erskine 73

Records: Southern Wesleyan (17-11 / CC 13-7) Erskine (7-19 / CC 4-16)

Coach Pasqua Says...

"Proud of the effort from our team tonight, and especially proud of our seniors. Our team has become very close, and played very hard for each other tonight."

How It Happened

The Warriors took a quick 8-0 lead over Erskine on Tuesday evening as Solomon Smith and Clenzo Ross led the way. The Flying Fleet would counter, but it was not enough as Jalen Lowery's back to back shots extended the Warriors lead to 18-9. Cameron Holmes would then knock down a 3-pointer and would be followed by one from Smith. The Fleet pulled within five on a basket from Caleb Shackleford; However, Ross would get a pair of free throws and TJ Harvin would pull up with a 3-point jumper to create another 10 point lead. Hunter Davis and Ta'Jay Dunlap each added baskets before the clock ran out and Southern Wesleyan would lead 44-29 at halftime.

Ross would make the first basket of the second half and fellow senior Diego Poore would follow with a made 3-pointer to extend the Warriors lead to 53-29. Erskine slowly began chipping away at the Warriors lead, but Smith and Dunlap continued to add points on offense and pressure on defense. Lowery's next 3-pointer put the Warriors ahead 68-52 with less than ten minutes to play. Southern Wesleyan held on to a comfortable lead for several minutes, but the Flying Fleet would begin to threaten the lead with shots from Uzziah Dawkins and Malcolm Green. Dunlap would make a handful of free throws late in the contest and the Warriors would go on to win, 83-73. 

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will host the Lees-McRae Bobcats in the Conference Carolinas Quarterfinals on March 3. Time is TBD.