Aiken, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped the road contest against the USC Aiken Pacers on Saturday afternoon in a 94-62 final score.
The Warriors shot 28.8% from the field and were 80.6% from the free throw line. Griffin Effenberger led the Warriors with 17 points. Effenberger was followed by Marcus Long with 10 points and Aaron Tims with nine. Of the seven assists in the game, both Reca Hallmon and Eric Hackett recorded two.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 35 rebounds. Dyren Brown picked up 11 defensive rebounds. Aaron Tims had five and Reco Hallmon had four. Hallmon went on to have the lone block and steal for Southern Wesleyan.
Game Vitals
Final: USC Aiken 94, Southern Wesleyan 62
Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-10) USC Aiken (9-1)
How It Happened
USC Aiken took the first points of the game as Tehree Horn laid the ball up off a fast break. A second jump shot by Horn put the Pacers on top by four points before a jump shot by Dyren Brown allowed the Warriors to get on the board. Eric Hackett sent the ball beyond the arc to Griffin Effenberger who fired off a three pointer to keep Southern Wesleyan within five. However, back-to-back baskets by Horn and Devin Evans put the Pacers ahead by nine with just under fifteen minutes left on the clock. Reco Hallmon laid the ball up and was fouled in the process to earn the and one basket. However, a jump shot by Rhyjon Blackwell allowed USC Aiken to stay ahead by eight. The Pacers pushed on with baskets by Simeon German and Jalen McCoy, but back-to-back baskets by Aaron Tims and Griffin Effenberger kept the Warriors within ten. Hallmon stole the ball away from the Pacers and passed the ball down the court to Raevon Allen who laid it up into the basket. USC Aiken led 47-28 going into the locker room.
The Pacers kicked off the second half with an eight point run off baskets by Jalen McCoy and Devin Evans. Griffin Effenberger laid the ball up into the basket and was fouled in the process to earn the and one basket. His free throw allowed the Warriors to come back to within twenty-five points of the Pacers. Once again the Warriors won the and one basket as Aaron Tims was fouled on a layup. However, a three pointer by Rhyjon Blackwell allowed USC Aiken to maintain their twenty-seven point lead. Aiken extended their lead to 71-41 on a layup by Simeon German. The Warriors pushed on with a three pointer by Marcus Long off a pass by Reco Hallmon. The Pacers would not back down as three pointers by Demitrios Dixon and Tehree Horn allowed them to regain their twenty-nine point advantage. However, with just under six minutes on the clock, a foul brought Matthew Rouse to free throw line to make two free throws. Dyren Brown passed the ball beyond the arc to Effenberger who put up a three pointer. Despite a last second jump shot by Grant Morrison, the Warriors fell to the Pacers in a 94-62 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on January 3 as they kick off the new year by hosting the North Greenville Crusaders in Conference Carolinas action at 7pm. They will then travel to Banner Elk, NC on January 6 as they take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats. The Warriors will remain on the road on January 10 as they take on the Converse Valkyries in Spartanburg, SC.
