Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan stormed past the Converse Valkyries on Friday evening in an 83-42 final score.

The Warriors shot 44.4% from the field and were 36.1% from beyond the arc in their first Conference Carolinas victory of the season.  Five Warriors posted double digits in scoring with Julian Cameron leading the team with 14 points.  Cameron was followed by Arusha Hunter and Solomon Smith with 12 points apiece.  Marcus Long had 11 points and Tranard Ferrell recorded 10.  The Warriors collected 22 assists with Hunter Davis, Cameron, and Davion Bradford each collecting four.

Southern Wesleyan collected 54 rebounds off the board in the victory.  Tranard Ferrell led the team with 16 to give him his second double-double game of the season.  He was followed by Solomon Smith with seven and Hunter Davis with six.  Ferrell posted two of the three blocks of the game.  The Warriors totaled 11 steals with both Brendan Hoban and Davion Bradford recording three of them.
 


Game Vitals

Final: Southern Wesleyan 83, Converse 42

Records: Southern Wesleyan (3-4 / CC 1-2) Converse (3-3 / CC 2-2)


 
How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan broke out early as Ta'Jay Dunlap sunk a ball from beyond the arc to put the Warriors on top 3-0.  They extended their lead to 6-0 as Brendan Hoban passed the ball to Arusha Hunter who sunk a pull up jump shot from beyond the arc.  A dunk by Earl Burgess III put the Valkyries on the board, but a layup by Solomon Smith put the Warriors lead at 8-4 just four minutes into the game.  The Warriors continued to storm down the court with a layup by Hunter Davis and another three pointer by Arusha Hunter.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as Tranard Ferrell blocked the Valkyries attacks on the net to keep them from cutting into the Warriors lead.  Davis passed the ball up to Ferrell, who dunked it into the net to put the Warriors on top 21-4 with just under eleven minutes left in the half.  They took a twenty point lead seconds later as Hunter sunk another ball from beyond the arc.  Southern Wesleyan continue to sink the ball from the beyond the arc as both Marcus Long and Brendan Hoban scored their first baskets of the even to extend the Warrior lead to 30-5.  The Valkyries challenged back, but the Warriors remained on top 37-18 at the end of the first half.

Converse kicked off the second half with a layup by Earl Burgess III.  However, the Warriors continued to push ahead on back-to-back baskets by Ta'Jay Dunlap to put them on top by twenty points just two minutes into the second half.  Julian Cameron sunk his first ball from beyond the arc to give the Warriors a 44-21 point lead.  Southern Wesleyan maintained the intensity as Brendan Hoban stole the ball and then laid it up to push the Warriors lead to twenty-five.  The Warriors would not relent on the attack as Solomon Smith laid the ball up, but the Valkyries countered with a good jump shot by Bailey Wiseman.  Back-to-back baskets by Julian Cameron pushed Southern Wesleyan's lead to 53-25.  The Warriors pushed their lead to 31 points on another three point basket by Cameron.  Converse fought back with baskets by Elijah Pitts and Burgess, but the Warriors regained their thirty point lead on a layup by Davion Bradford.  Bradford stole the ball away from Xavion Bennett and dunked it into the basket to put the Warriors on top 68-31.  Southern Wesleyan would not relent as they took an 81-37 point lead on layups by Solomon Smith and Raevon Allen.  The Warriors went on to win the game 83-42.


 
What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on December 11 as they travel to Bristol, TN to take on the King Tornado at 4 p.m.  They will then travel to Due West, SC on December 15 to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet.  The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on December 18 as they welcome the Francis Marion Patriots to Central, SC for a 4 p.m. tip-off.