Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in the exhibition game against the USC Upstate Spartans on Wednesday evening in a 98-63.

The Warriors shot 30.9% from the field in the exhibition contest.  Jaquay Randolph (17 points) and Malachi Cooper (10 points) each had double digits.  Ashton Williams led the team with two of the five assists.

Southern Wesleyan pulled down 36 rebounds.  Jaquay Randolph recorded eight rebounds.  Randolph went on to have two blocks.  Jamarras McCray also had a block in the game.  The Warriors had six steals with Valdy Zephir having two.

Game Vitals

Final: USC Upstate 98, Southern Wesleyan 63

Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-8 / CC 0-5) USC Upstate (8-6)

How It Happened

The Spartans were the first on the board as Mason Bendinger got the ball up, but the Warriors answered seconds later with a layup by Jaquay Randolph.  USC Upstate regained the lead as Bendinger got up a couple more shots.  Learic Davis stole the ball away from the Warriors before taking it down the court and slamming it into the basket for a dunk.  With just over sixteen minutes on the court, Malachi Cooper went up and hit his first three pointer of the game to put the Warriors right back within four points of the Spartans.  A couple three pointers out of the hands of Karmani Gregory allowed USC Upstate to extend their lead to 19-5.  Bobby Taylor passed the ball under the basket to Valdy Zephir who then got up and dunked the ball into the basket.  Cooper hit another three pointer, but the Warriors trailed the Spartans 49-18 at halftime.

Jaquay Randolph opened up the second half with a jump shot.  He was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket.  Karmani Gregory answered as he laid the ball up into the basket to extend the Spartans lead to 51-21.  With just over sixteen minutes on the clock, Bobby Taylor jumped up and hit a three pointer.  Mason Bendinger got up a jump shot.  The Spartans would not relent as Isaiah Skinner hit a three pointer, but the Warriors answered with a three pointer out of the hands of Kenyon Addie.  Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up, but the Spartans countered with a layup by Coen Collier.  Kanye Jones stole the ball away from the Warriors and passed it down the court to Chico Johnson.  Johnson dunked the ball into the basket.  With just over six minutes left on the clock, Ashton Williams knocked down a three pointer.  USC Upstate went on to claim the game in a 98-63 final score.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on December 20 as they travel to Americus, GA to take on the Georgia Southwestern Canes.  The Warriors will then take a break for the Holidays before traveling to Due West, SC to take on the Erskine Flying Fleet at 4pm.