Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped their home opener against the University of North Georgia Nighthawks on Wednesday evening in a 103-81 final score.
The Warriors shot 46.3% from the field against the Nighthawks. Three Warriors posted double digits with
Tyrin Hollis leading the team with 20 points. Hollis was followed by
Wilvens Fleurizard with 19 and
Marcus Long with 12. Hollis went on to lead the team in assists as well as he picked up five.
Tariq Shabazz followed with three. Southern Wesleyan stole the ball away from North Georgia 11 times with
Wilvens Fleurizard leading the team with four.
Bryson Felder had the lone block of the evening. The Warriors collected 23 rebounds with
Marcus Long leading the team with five. He was followed by Felder with four and
Griffin Effenberger with three.
Game Vitals
Final: North Georgia 103, Southern Wesleyan 81
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-3) North Georgia (3-0)
How It Happened
The first point of the evening came off a free throw by Frank Champion. Southern Wesleyan pushed ahead to take the lead on a layup by
Tyrin Hollis. North Georgia was not discouraged as they scored six straight points to put them on top 7-2. Trailing by eleven,
Jamal Edmonson collected a pass from Hollis and laid it up to allow the Warriors to cut into the Nighthawks lead. The Nighthawks would not relent as a layup by Case Roach put them ahead 19-4. However, the Warriors cut their lead to eleven as
Marcus Long and
Wilvens Fleurizard laid the ball up into the basket. With just under nine minutes on the clock, Edmonson laid the ball up into the basket to keep the Warriors within twelve points. Once again North Georgia pushed ahead, but the Southern Wesleyan challenged right back as Fleurizard stepped beyond the arc and sunk a three to put the Warriors down 36-24. However, the Nighthawks lead 48-30 at halftime.
North Georgia took a twenty point lead on free throws by Sutton Smith. However, a three point basket by
Bryson Felder allowed the Warriors to cut the Nighthawks lead down to fifteen. The Nighthawks maintained their intensity as they went on a six point run before
Tyrin Hollis put up a jump shot.
Marcus Long stole the ball away and laid it up into the basket. Back-to-back three point shots by
Jamal Edmonson and
Tyrin Hollis allowed the Warriors to cut the Nighthawks lead down to 68-47. The Nighthawks extended their lead to thirty-one points, but the Warriors fought back as
Griffin Effenberger collected a pass from
Tariq Shabazz and stepped behind the arc to make a three point shot.
Bryson Felder got around the Nighthawk defense and dunked the ball into the basket. Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at North Georgia's lead on threes by
Marcus Long and
Tariq Shabazz. Despite a last second three by
Tyrin Hollis, the Warriors fell to the Nighthawks 103-81.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will next travel to Jefferson City, TN to take on the Carson-Newman Eagles on November 19. They will open up Conference Carolinas action on the road on November 22 as they travel to Wilson, NC to take on the Barton Bulldogs. The Warriors will then return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on November 26 to host the USC Aiken Pacers.
