Due West, SC – Southern Wesleyan defeated the Erskine Flying Fleet on Wednesday evening in a 69-65 final score.

The Warriors shot 38.3% from the field and went 38.1% from beyond the arc in the victory over the Flying Fleet.  Arusha Hunter and Ta'Jay Dunlap led the team with 15 points apiece.  They were followed by Davion Bradford with 14 points and Solomon Smith with 11.  Southern Wesleyan had 13 assists with Bradford leading the team with seven.

Defensively, Southern Wesleyan collected 37 rebounds.  Tranard Ferrell led the team with 10.  Ferrell was followed by Davion Bradford with nine.  Ferrell had the lone block of the game for Southern Wesleyan.  The Warriors posted six steals with Bradford leading the team with four.


 
Game Vitals

Final: Southern Wesleyan 69, Erskine 65

Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-4 / CC 3-2) Erskine (1-10 / CC 1-6)


 
How It Happened

The Warriors took the first points of the game as Julian Cameron passed the ball over to Ta'Jay Dunlap.  Dunlap stepped behind the arc and sunk the ball to put Southern Wesleyan ahead 3-0.  Davion Bradford stole the ball away from the Flying Fleet and then laid it up to push the Warriors lead to 6-0.  Erskine countered with a jump shot by Kaleb Brooks to put them within four points of Southern Wesleyan.  Bradford dunked the ball into the basket to put the Warriors ahead 8-3.  The Flying Fleet cut the lead back to three points on a jump shot by Stephen Thomas, and then a three point shot by Brooks allowed them to tie the game up at eight points apiece.  Dunlap stepped beyond the arc and put his second three point shot of the game into the net to give the Warriors an 11-8 point lead.  Erskine tied the game up at twelve points apiece on free throws by Jalen Miller.  Davion Bradford sunk a jump shot to put the Warriors back on top, but a jump shot by Connor Stark allowed Erskine to tie it back up.  Southern Wesleyan continued to push ahead as Brendan Hoban passed the ball over to Hunter Davis who laid it up to allow the Warriors to regain the lead.  Back-to-back three point shots by Brooks and Justin Morton allowed Erskine to take a 22-16 point lead.  Julian Cameron and Solomon Smith sunk jump shots to put the Warriors within six of the Flying Fleet with just over three minutes left in the first half.  Southern Wesleyan continued to pressure the Erskine Flying Fleet back as Smith laid the ball up to put the Warriors down 27-29.  Back-to-back three point baskets by Julian Cameron and Solomon Smith put the Warriors ahead 33-31 at halftime.

An early foul in the second half allowed Davion Bradford to take free throws.  Bradford sunk both free throws to put the Warriors lead at 35-31.  Erskine countered with a pull up jump shot by Emandi Brooks to come within two, and then a three pointer by Kaleb Brooks allowed the Flying Fleet to take a 36-35 point advantage.  Southern Wesleyan cut into the Flying Fleet's lead on a jump shot by Ta'Jay Dunlap to put them down by one.  A layup by Solomon Smith allowed the Warriors to regain the lead with just over fifteen minutes left in the second half.  Bradford passed the ball up to Arusha Hunter who stepped beyond the arc to push the Warriors lead to 44-40.  Hunter sunk a second three shortly afterwards to push the Warriors ahead by six points.  Southern Wesleyan increased the intensity on layups by Dunlap and Bradford.  A three point shot by Hunter allowed to Warriors to distance themselves further from the Flying Fleet.  Tranard Ferrell collected a rebound and dunked the ball into the basket to give Southern Wesleyan a 15-point advantage with under ten minutes left on the clock.  Erskine countered to cut into Southern Wesleyan's lead with layups by Brooks and De'Lanyc Shuler to put them down eleven.  However, the Warriors would not relent their own attacks as Arusha Hunter and Hunter Davis each sunk jump shots to put Southern Wesleyan back on top by thirteen.  Erskine continued to challenge as a turn around jump shot by Emandi Brooks put the Flying Fleet within three points of the Warriors.  However, Southern Wesleyan went on to win the game in a 69-65 final score.
 


What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on December 18 as they host the Francis Marion Patriots at 4 p.m.  They will then host the Barton Bulldogs in Central, SC on December 20 for a 2 p.m. game.  The Warriors will then break for the holidays before to the court on January 4 as the host the Lees-McRae Bobcats in Historic Tsysinger Gymnasium.