Dahlonega, GA – Warriors unable to hold onto first half lead as they fell to the Nighthawks of North Georgia in a 67-60 final score.
The Warriors shot 37.3% from the field and were 24% from beyond the arc in the loss to North Georgia on Saturday. Jaquay Randolph led the team with 25 points. Malachi Cooper had nine points and Jamarras McCray had eight. Both Will Little and Bobby Taylor had seven points in the game. Southern Wesleyan collected 12 assists in the game with Taylor leading the team with four.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 34 rebounds during the game. Jaquay Randolph picked up a double-double as he had 19 rebounds in the game. Will Little, Bobby Taylor and David Witcher each had blocks. Of the four steals, Josh Parker had two.
Game Vitals
Final: North Georgia 67, Southern Wesleyan 60
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-3) North Georgia (3-0)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan charged out of the gate as Bobby Taylor passed the ball out beyond the arc to Jamarras McCray. McCray knocked down an opening three pointer to put the Warriors on top early. The Nighthawks answered as Colin Turner got the ball into the basket. However, another three pointer, this time out of the hands of Jaquay Randolph, allowed Southern Wesleyan to extend their lead to 6-2. North Georgia tied the game up on a layup by Chase Champion, but it was short lived as Bobby Taylor knocked down yet another three pointer for the Warriors. Southern Wesleyan's shots from beyond the arc continued to land as Will Little got one into the basket. A three pointer by AJ Baskerville allowed the Nighthawks to come back to within one point of the Warriors. North Georgia would not back down as a layup by Baskerville allowed the Nighthawks to claim their first lead of the afternoon. However, Will Little passed the ball under the basket to Jaquay Randolph who laid it up into the basket. The Warriors regained the lead as Malachi Cooper hit a jump shot. Randolph and Cooper hit back-to-back baskets to take an eight point lead over North Georgia. The Nighthawks broke the Warriors 8-0 run as Colin Turner dunked the ball into the basket. Zack Hawkinson and Champion hit baskets, but the Warriors would not back down on their attacks on the net as Josh Parker laid the ball up into the basket. North Georgia pressed on as Jake Stephens stole the ball away and laid the ball up to tie the game up once again. Josh Parker stole the ball away from the Nighthawks and passed the ball up the court to Will Little who laid it up to allow Southern Wesleyan to regain the lead. With just over three minutes left on the clock, Jamarras McCray hit his second three pointer of the afternoon. Back-to-back baskets by Randolph and Cooper allowed the Warriors to regain their seven point lead over the Nighthawks. Southern Wesleyan led 40-31 going into the locker room.
The Warriors continued their offensive push in the second half as Jaquay Randolph went to the basket and laid the ball up. Bobby Taylor got the ball over to Will Little who laid it up into the basket, however the Nighthawks answered with a three pointer out of the hands of AJ White to keep North Georgia within ten. Chase Champion passed the ball under the basket to Colin Turner who dunked it into the basket. The Nighthawks looked to cut further into the Warriors lead, but Zack Hawkinson missed his slam dunk to put the ball back in Southern Wesleyan's hands. A foul sent Randolph to the charity stripe. Randolph hit both of his free throws to extend the Warriors lead to 46-38. Chris Cole knocked down a three pointer to keep the Nighthawks within eight, but it was short lived as freshman Malachi Cooper hit a three pointer of his own. With just over nine minutes on the clock, White laid the ball up into the basket to cut the Warriors lead down to six points. North Georgia continued to challenge as Ja'mari Arnold hit a three pointer and then White drove to the basket and laid it up to put the Nighthawks back to within one point of the Warriors. The Nighthawks continued their run as Zack Hawkinson laid the ball up into the basket to allow North Georgia to regain their lead. A foul by Arnold sent Jaquay Randolph to the free throw line. Randolph hit both his baskets to put Southern Wesleyan back on top by one. Ja'mari Arnold drove to the basket and laid the ball up to give the Nighthawks a two point lead, but it was short lived as Randolph put up a lay up of his own to keep the game tied up. Southern Wesleyan pushed on as Bobby Taylor stole the ball away from the Nighthawks and took it down the court for a jump shot. North Georgia continued to press as Zack Hawkinson laid the ball up to allow them to claim the game in a 67-60 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will open up Conference Carolinas action on the road on November 25 as they travel to Rome, GA to take on the Shorter Hawks at 7pm. They will then return home for a scrimmage game against SC Central Christian on December 1. The Warriors will travel to Young Harris, GA on December 3 to take on the Young Harris Mountain Lions.
