Americus, GA – Southern Wesleyan fell on the road to Georgia Southwestern on Saturday in an 89-55 final score.
The Warriors shot 25% from the field in the loss to the Canes. Jaquay Randolph led the team as he had 15 points. Malachi Cooper went 2-8 from beyond the arc. Of the 11 assists, Bobby Taylor had four and Ashton Williams had three.
Southern Wesleyan collected 43 rebounds with Jaquay Randolph leading the team with 13 to give him a double-double. Randolph and Valdy Zephir each had blocks. The Warriors stole the ball away from the canes five times. Both Randolph and Josh Parker had two steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Georgia Southwestern 89, Southern Wesleyan 55
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-9 / CC 0-5) Georgia Southwestern (9-3 / Peach Belt 2-2)
How It Happened
The Canes stormed out of the gate as Deonte Williams slammed the ball into the basket for an opening dunk. Seconds later the Warriors got on the board as Valdy Zephir hit a mid-range and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket. Back-to-back layups by Williams and Markel Freeman allowed Georgia Southwestern to regain the lead. The lead was short lived as Malachi Cooper knocked down a three pointer to tie the game up at six. A three pointer by Rafael Rubel off an assist by JR Jacobs put the Canes ahead by five. Williams drove to the basket again and laid the ball up to extend on Georgia Southwestern's lead. With just over ten minutes left in the half, Ashton Williams sent the ball out beyond the arc to Jamarras McCray. McCray knocked down a three pointer to put the Warriors back within six. Southern Wesleyan continued to press as Kenyon Addie hit another three point seconds later. Bobby Taylor got the ball over to David Witcher. Witcher got up and slammed the ball into the basket for a dunk. Seconds later, Valdy Zephir got in a dunk of his own to keep the Warriors within nine. The Warriors cut the Canes lead down to six as Bobby Taylor hit a three pointer, but Georgia Southwestern quickly answered with a three pointer out of the hands of Markel Freeman. The Warriors trailed the Canes 36-28 at the half.
An early foul by the Warriors allowed Amir Reaves to take some opening free throws in the second half. Reaves hit both his baskets to allow Georgia Southwestern to take a ten point lead. The Canes would not relent as JR Jacobs hit a three pointer and then Reaves drove to the basket and laid the ball up. Southern Wesleyan got their first points of the second half as a foul by Georgia Southwestern sent Jaquay Randolph to the charity stripe. Randolph knocked down both his shots. Three pointers by Keshawn Brown Jr and Rafael Rubel allowed the Canes to extend their lead to 61-32. Jaquay Randolph drove to the basket and laid the ball up. Bobby Taylor got the ball to Josh Parker who then laid it up into the basket. However, Brown hit back-to-back three pointers for the Canes to extend their lead further. After Josh Parker stole the ball away from the Canes, he got the ball over to Jaquay Randolph. Randolph wove past the defense and laid the ball up into the basket. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as Parker hit a mid-range jump shot and then Malachi Cooper knocked down a three pointer. Natanael Lewis and Jayden Guillaume each put up mid-range jump shots off passes by Ashton Williams. Southern Wesleyan fell to Georgia Southwestern in an 89-55 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will take a break for the Holidays before traveling to Due West, SC to resume Conference Carolinas action against the Erskine Flying Fleet on January 3. They will then host the Emmanuel Lions on January 7.
