Central, SC – The Warriors dropped their first game of 2024 to the North Greenville Crusaders on Wednesday evening in an 82-71 final score.

Southern Wesleyan shot 38.9% from the field and were 71% from the free throw line.  Griffen Effenberger led the team in scoring after shooting 4-6 from beyond the arc and going 4-4 at the free throw line for 18 points.  Behind him, freshman Eric Hacket had 17 points in the game.  Of the 10 assists, Jonathan Taylor had two.

The Warriors totaled 40 rebounds in the game.  Aaron Tims led the team with nine boards with Reco Hallmon followed with seven.  Southern Wesleyan picked up eight steals.  Raevon Allen had three and Hallmon and two.  Solo steals came from Griffin Effenberger, Tims, and Matthew Rouse.

Game Vitals

Final: North Greenville 82, Southern Wesleyan 71

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-13 / CC 1-3) North Greenville (5-5 / CC 2-3)

How It Happened

North Greenville took the first points of the game off a layup by Max Topham, however a layup by Raevon Allen seconds later allowed the Warriors to tie the game up.  The Crusaders took the lead again, but once more the Warriors tied the game up as Dyren Brown sunk the ball from beyond the arc.  Griffin Effenberger hit his first three pointer of the evening to give the Warriors a three point lead.  North Greenville would not relent as Dre Singleton and Cadarrius Sowell each had fast break layups in the paint.  Effenberger went off from beyond the arc as he hit back-to-back three point baskets to put the Warriors ahead 14-12 with just over twelve minutes remaining in the half.  Seconds later, Effenberger sent the ball over to Eric Hackett who stepped beyond the arc and sunk his first three.  However, back-to-back layups by Max Topham allowed the Crusaders to get back to within one point.  Jamal Edmonson took the ball to the rim to put the Warriors back ahead by two, but it was short lived as fouls allowed both Max Topham and Savion Brown to take free throw shots that allowed North Greenville to take a one point lead.  Raevon Allen dunked the ball into the basket and then Matthew Rouse laid the ball up to tie the game up at twenty-five points apiece.  Rouse passed the ball over to Griffin Effenberger who fired off his final three pointer of the evening to give the Warriors a 31-27 point lead.  North Greenville countered each of Southern Wesleyan's attacks as baskets by Max Topham and Caleb Williams gave them the lead.  With forty-five seconds on the clock, Eric Hackett stepped beyond the arc and sunk a three.  The Warriors led 41-40 going into the locker room.

The game remained scoreless for the first minute and a half before a three pointer by Max Topham allowed North Greenville to take a two point advantage.  However, free throws by Aaron Tims and a layup by Raevon Allen put the Warriors back on top.  Southern Wesleyan pushed on with layups by Tims and Eric Hackett.  However, Seth Hewitt collected a defensive rebound and sent it down the court to Cadarrius Sowell for a fast break layup to tie the game up with just under fourteen minutes on the clock.  Hewitt laid the ball up in the basket shortly afterwards to give the Crusaders the lead.  It was short lived as Tims passed the ball under the basket to Che Smith for a layup to tie the game back up at fifty-five points apiece.  Justin Perry hit a three pointer and then a dunk by Max Topham shifted the momentum to the Crusaders.  Southern Wesleyan continued to fight with baskets by Smith and Griffin Effenberger.  However, back-to-back layups by Jacob Brown allowed North Greenville to extend their lead to nine.  The Crusaders went on to claim an 82-71 point victory over the Warriors.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Banner Elk, NC on January 6 to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats.  They will remain on the road on January 10 as they take on the Converse Valkyries at 7 pm.  The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on January 13 as they host the Erskine Flying Fleet.