Greenwood, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their season opener to the Flagler Saints on Friday evening in an 88-73 final score.
The Warriors shot 46.3% from the field in the loss to the Saints. Jamal Edmonson led the team with 18 points. He was followed by Wilvens Fleuizard with 16, Tyrin Hollis with 13 and Griffin Effenberger with 10. Southern Wesleyan picked up 14 assists with Marcus Long recording four. Effenberger led the team with three of the eight steals. He was followed by Fleurizard with two. Long pulled down eight rebounds to lead the team.
Game Vitals
Final: Flagler 88, Southern Wesleyan 73
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Flagler (1-2)
How It Happened
The Warriors jumped out early as Tyrin Hollis got the ball to Jamal Edmonson who stepped beyond the arc to sink a three. Flagler countered with baskets by Kyle Young and Malik Bryant to put them ahead. However, a layup by Wilvens Fleurizard put the Warriors back ahead by one seconds later. The Saints pushed ahead taking a ten point lead before a layup by Tariq Shabazz allowed the Warriors to come to within eight points. Marcus Long drove the ball to the net and laid it up to put the Warriors down 9-21. Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at Flager's lead as Wilvens Fleurizard stole the ball away from the Saints and got it to Marcus Long who put it into the basket once again. Griffin Effenberger collected a pass from Bryson Felder and stepped the arc to put in a three pointer to allow the Warriors to get back within ten points of the Saints. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge Flagler as Raevon Allen laid the ball up to put the Warriors down 18-29. Jamal Edmonson put up back-to-back jump shots to allow the Warriors to come to within nine. The Warriors battled on as Wilvens Fleurizard stepped just beyond the arc and sunk a three. Down by eight, Edmonson broke away from the pack and laid the ball up into the net. Raevon Allen stole the ball away and sent it all the way down the court to Edmonson who laid the ball up once again to put the Warriors down 37-31 at the half.
Flagler took the first points of the second half on a three-point shot by Jaylen Lemons, but Southern Wesleyan challenged right back on a jump shot by Tyrin Hollis. Hollis passed the ball over to Griffin Effenberger who put the ball up from beyond the arc to allow the Warriors to stay within seven. The Warriors continued to chip away at the Flagler lead as back-to-back baskets by Bryson Felder and Tyrin Hollis put the Warriors down 41-46. Flagler pushed ahead on back-to-back threes by Tyler Collier and Jaylen Lemons. Southern Wesleyan was not discouraged as Griffin Effenberger passed the ball over to Jamal Edmonson who laid it up into the basket. Flagler pushed further ahead as a free throw by Jax Bouknight put them ahead 71-51. Wilvens Fleurizard and Jamal Edmonson put up back-to-back shots. Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away as Griffin Effenberger drove the ball to the net. Tyrin Hollis stepped beyond the arc after collecting a pass from Fleurizard to sink a three. Despite a late layup by Fleurizard the Warriors fell to the Saints in an 88-73.
What's Next
The Warriors will continue in the Conference Crossover Tournament on November 12 as they return to Greenwood, SC to take on the Lander Bearcats at 2:30 p.m. Southern Wesleyan will then host their home opener on November 16 as they welcome the University of North Georgia Nighthawks to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. tip-off. They will then travel to Jefferson City, TN on November 19 to take on the Carson-Newman Eagles.
