Mars Hill, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Mars Hill Lions on Saturday afternoon in a 96-87 final score.
The Warriors shot 43.1% from the field and were 40% from beyond the arc. Bobby Taylor led Southern Wesleyan as he had 16 points in the game. Jaquay Randolph, Will Little and Valdy Zephir also had double digits in the game. Randolph and Little each had 15 points while Zephir hit 13 points. Of the nine assists in the game both Josh Parker and Malachi Cooper each had three.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 39 rebounds in the game. Jaquay Randolph had 14 rebounds to give him his first double-double game of the season. Malachi Cooper had the lone block of the game. Cooper had two of the five steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Mars Hill 96, Southern Wesleyan 87
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-2) Mars Hill (2-0)
How It Happened
The Lions kicked off the game with a layup by Keenan Wilkins. A foul seconds later allowed Jaquay Randolph to take a free throw shot to get the Warriors on the board. The Lions continued their attacks as Christian Foy knocked down a couple three point shots. With just over seventeen minutes on the clock, Bobby Taylor sunk a three pointer to put the Warriors within four. Caden Owens collected a pass from Jonathan Brandtner and laid the ball up to extend Mars Hill's lead. The Warriors continued to challenge as Josh Parker picked up a three pointer and then Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up into the basket. With just over eleven minutes on the clock, freshman Ashton Williams knocked down his first collegiate three pointer to allow Southern Wesleyan to tie the game up. Mars Hill answered as Jaheim Taylor stole the ball away from the Warriors and hit a three pointer. Randolph hit a three pointer off a pass from Parker, but the Lions countered with a three pointer by Alejandro Ford. Layups by Carson Evans and Caden Owens allowed Mars Hill to take a ten point lead. Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Kenyon Addie hit a three pointer, however the Warriors trailed behind the Lions 43-37 at halftime.
Mars Hill struck first coming out of the locker room as Alejandro Ford hit another three pointer. Jaquay Randolph collected a rebound and put it right back up into the basket. Baskets by Josh Parker and Ashton Williams allowed the warriors to come to within six points of the Lions. However, the Lions answered with a three pointer by Caden Owens to allow them to regain their ten point advantage with just under sixteen minutes on the clock. Ashton Troutman dunked the ball into the basket. Bobby Taylor passed the ball out beyond arc to Kenyon Addie who sunk the ball into the net. Southern Wesleyan went on the attack again as Valdy Zephir hit a three and Will Little laid the ball up into the net. However, three pointers by Christian Foy allowed Mars Hill to maintain their nine point advantage. The Warriors would not relent as they came to within three points of the Lions off a couple more shots by Zephir and Will Little. However, a series of fouls by the Warriors allowed the Lions to score some free throws to put them back on top by ten. Despite last second layups by Bobby Taylor and Little, the Warriors fell to the Lions in a 96-87 final score.
What's Next
The Warriors will host their home opener on November 19 as they welcome the Georgia College Bobcats to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium for a 6pm tip-off. They will the travel to Dahlonega, GA on November 22 to take on the North Georgia Nighthawks before traveling to Rome, GA to open up Conference Carolinas action against the Shorter Hawks on November 25.
