Mars Hill, NC – Southern Wesleyan put up hard fought battle against the Columbus State Cougars to jump start their 2025-26 campaign on Friday evening. However, the Cougars ended up on top in an 84-79 final score.
The Warriors shot 45% from the field and were 30% from beyond the arc in the season opener. Freshman Malachi Cooper led the team as he posted 27 points in his first collegiate game. Both Valdy Zephir and Jaquay Randolph also posted double digits in the game. Zephir totaled 15 points while Randolph had 11. The Warriors had 15 assists in the game with both Malachi Cooper and Josh Parker having four.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 41 rebounds during the match. Both Valdy Zephir and Jaquay Randolph had seven rebounds in the game. Jamarras McCray and Hudson Yarbrough had solo blocks. The Warriors' two steals of the game came from Will Little and Josh Parker.
Game Vitals
Final: Columbus State 84, Southern Wesleyan 79
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Columbus State (1-0)
How It Happened
The Cougars went on the attack quickly as they went on a 10-0 run before Malachi Cooper fired off a three pointer to get the Warriors on the board. Cooper hit a floating jump shot to put Southern Wesleyan within five points of Columbus State. Lee Langstaff laid the ball up and was fouled in the process to earn the and one basket. However, the Warriors continued to press as Will Little passed the ball out beyond the arc to Josh Parker. Parker knocked down the ball while under pressure to put the Warriors behind the Cougars 13-8. Cooper drove to the net once again and laid the ball up. With just under eight minutes left in the first half, Cooper passed the ball down the court to Jaquay Randolph who slammed it into the basket for a dunk to put Southern Wesleyan within two points of Columbus State. A jump shot by Valdy Zephir tied the game up at twenty-three points each. Hudson Yarbrough laid the ball up in the basket to allow the Warriors to take the lead for the first time in the game, but the Cougars maintained the pressure as a layups by Marlon Smith and Jordyn Hall allowed them to regain the lead. Despite a layup out of the hands of Malachi Cooper, the Warriors trailed the Cougars 32-31 at halftime.
Will Little drove up under the basket and laid the ball up to put the Warriors ahead to start the second half. However, a foul sent Lee Langstaff back to the free throw line where he knocked down both shots to allow Columbus State to regain the lead. With just over eighteen minutes on the clock, Jordan Mitchell drove to the basket and dunked the ball into the net. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Jamarras McCray and Josh Parker each sunk three pointers to tie the game up at forty-two points each. The Cougars continued the pressure as Jydon Hall laid the ball up. Columbus State pushed ahead as Hall and Jordan Mitchell each made baskets to put them ahead 48-42. Little collected a defensive rebound and passed the ball out to Bobby Taylor. Taylor transitioned the ball over to Valdy Zephir who dunked it into the basket to put the Warriors back within four. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Hudson Yarbrough and Little each laid the ball up into the basket. Jydon Hall knocked down a three pointer, but a three pointer out of the hands of Kenyon Addie kept the Warriors within two points of the Cougars. With just over six minutes on the clock, Bobby Taylor laid the ball up into the basket. Columbus State answered as Jordan Mitchell dunked the ball into the net. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge Columbus State as Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up into the basket. Despite a last second dunk by Randolph, the Warriors dropped the season opener in an 84-79 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on November 15 as they take on the Mars Hill Lions at 3pm. They will then host their first game of the season on November 19 as they welcome the Georgia College Bobcats to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium at 6pm.
