Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the UNC Pembroke Braves in a heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon in a 67-66 final score and conclude their 2021-22 season.
 
The Warriors shot 32.2% from the field in the loss to the Braves in the semifinals.  Demarcus Addie led the team with 32 points.  Arusha Hunter went 5-8 from beyond the arc to give him 15 points.  Ta'Jay Dunlap was the final Warrior to post double digits as he finished with 11 points.  The Warriors had nine assists during the game with Dunlap leading the team with five.
 
Defensively, the Warriors collected 29 rebounds.  Demarcus Addie and Solomon Smith each pulled down eight to lead the team.  Addie had the lone block of the game.  The Warriors stole the ball away 13 times with Davion Bradford leading the team with six.
 
 
 
Game Vitals
 
Final: UNC Pembroke 67, Southern Wesleyan 66
 
Records: Southern Wesleyan (19-10 / CC 16-7) UNC Pembroke (26-2 / CC 22-2)
 
 
 
How It Happened
 
Demarcus Addie put the Warriors on the board first on Saturday afternoon as he stepped beyond the arc and sunk a three.  Addie stole the ball away from the Braves seconds later and laid it up to put the Warriors up by five before a three point shot by Jordan Ratliffe allowed UNC Pembroke to come back within two points of Southern Wesleyan.  The Braves took the lead on a jump shot by Spencer Levi, but Addie dunked the ball into the net to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie UNC Pembroke back up at seven points apiece.  However, a three point shot by Arusha Hunter allowed the Warriors to regain a one point lead.  Back-to-back baskets by Demarcus Addie allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to five points.  The Braves fought back to come within four points on layups by Trenton McIntyre and Spencer Levi.  UNC Pembroke would not relent as they tied the game up on a free throw by Tyrell Kirk.  However, Arusha Hunter hit back-to-back three point shots allowed the Warriors to regain a 27-23 point lead.  Southern Wesleyan led 36-25 at halftime.
 
UNC Pembroke took the first point of the second half as Spencer Levi made a free throw to put the Braves within ten points of the Warriors.  Demarcus Addie laid the ball up into the basket to give the Warriors a 15-point lead with just under eighteen minutes left in the half.  The Braves battled back as Tyrell Kirk made back-to-back shots to put them within eight points.  The Warriors were not discouraged as Demarcus Addie put up a jump shot to give the Warriors a 43-33 point lead.  Arusha Hunter stepped beyond the arc as he collected a pass from Addie and sunk a three point basket.  However, back-to-back three point shots by Kirk and Nate Dunlop allowed the Braves to get back within nine of the Warriors.  The Braves continued to fight back as a layup in the paint by Deon Berrien put them behind the Warriors 53-50.  Free throw baskets by Ta'Jay Dunlap and Tranard Ferrell pushed the Warriors ahead by six points.  UNC Pembroke was not deterred as a three point shot by Javonte Waverly put them ahead by three points with just over three minutes left in the half.  The Warriors tied it back up on a three point shot by Demarcus Addie.  However, last second free throw baskets by Tyrell Kirk allowed the Braves to win the game in a 67-66 final score.