Central, SC – In a thrilling match-up, Southern Wesleyan fell to the Francis Marion Patriots in an 88-85 final score.

The Warriors shot 41% from the field including going 38.9% from beyond the arc.  Christopher Osobaye led the team with 24 points with Eric Hackett (22) and RJ Bell (17) following right behind him.  Che Smith picked up three assists.

Southern Wesleyan collected 34 rebounds in the game.  Christopher Osobaye led the team with nine while Che Smith followed with seven.  Of the 11 steals both RJ Bell and Smith had three.

Game Vitals

Final: Francis Marion 88, Southern Wesleyan 85

Records: Southern Wesleyan (4-7 / CC 2-3) Franics Marion (4-9 / CC 2-3)

How It Happened

A foul by the Patriots in the first few seconds of the game allowed Christopher Osobaye to go to the charity stripe.  Osobaye sunk both free throw shots to give the Warriors the early advantage.  Seconds later, Che Smith stole the ball away from Franics Marion and sunk it into the basket from beyond the arc.  A layup by Aaron Tims allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to seven.  After two minute sof play, Jordan Simpson put up a jump shot to put the Patriots on the board.  Francis Marion continued to challenge as Ibrahim Wattara hit a three pointer.  However, back-to-back layups by RJ Bell allowed the Warriors to regain their seven point advantage.  With just over fourteen minutes left in the first half, Bell stole the ball away from Jordyn Surratt and laid it up into the basket.  Eric Hackett stepped beyond the arc and hit a three pointer.  Layups by Surratt allowed the Patriots to stay within eight.  Francis Marion would not relent as Latavian Lawrence laid the ball up into the basket.  A three pointer by Jordan Simpson put the Patriots within one, but the Warriors would not back down as Eric Hackett and Christopher Osobaye each had free throws.  The Warriors led the Patriots 45-37 going into the locker rooms.

A tip-in layup by Raheem Brizendine allowed Southern Wesleyan to extend their lead to ten at the beginning of the second half.  Ibrahim Wattara put up back-to-back layups.  Reco Hallmon stepped beyond the arc to hit a three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to eight.  The Patriots pushed on as layups by Wattara and Jordan Simpson put them within four points of Southern Wesleyan.  The Patriots picked up intensity as Ramez Zayed tipped the ball into the basket to tie the game up.  The Warriors fought back as Christopher Osobaya hit a three pointer to allow the Warriors to regain the lead.  The lead was short lived as a three by Simpson put Francis Marion ahead by two.  The Patriots continued to press the Warriors defense as Zayed laid the ball up into the basket.  Simpson and Zayed each put up layups to extend Francis Marion's lead to five.  Ramez Zayed stole the ball away from the Warriors and sent the ball down the court to Jordyn Surratt who dunked it into the basket to give Francis Marion a ten point advantage.  Eric Hackett put up a jump shot and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket.  Francis Marion would not relent as a jump shot by Jordan Simpson put them ahead by seven.  The Warriors chipped away at the Patriots lead with baskets by Che Smith and Reco Hallmon.  Despite a last second layup by Christopher Osobaye, the Warriors fell to the Patriots in a 88-85 final score.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on January 8 as they host the Emmanuel Lions at 7pm.  They will then enter a three game road trip that will kick off on January 11 as they travel to Tigerville, SC to take on the North Greenville Trailblazers.  They will then play the Erskine Flying Fleet on January 15 and the University of Mount Olive Trojans on January 18.