Spartanburg, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Converse Valkyries on Saturday afternoon in a 103-96 final score.

The Warriors shot 47.6% from the field and were 50% from beyond the arc.  Jaquay Randolph led the team with 29 points.  Right behind him, Will Little shot 4-6 from beyond the arc and totaled 26 points.  Valdy Zephir was the last Warrior to pick up double digits as he had 14 points.  Of the 12 assists, Josh Park had six and Bobby Taylor had four.

Southern Wesleyan pulled down 37 rebounds.  Jaquay Randolph picked up another double-double as he led the team with 15 rebounds.  Randolph went on to have two blocks.  Valdy Zephir had the other block of the game for the Warriors.  Josh Parker stole the ball away four times.

Game Vitals

Final: Converse 103, Southern Wesleyan 96

Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-6 / CC 0-3) Converse (3-4 / 2-1)

How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan opened up the game as Malachi Cooper hit a three pointer.  Latavian Lawrence knocked down a three to tie the game.  However, it was short lived as Bobby Taylor and Will Little both put up shots.  Taylor passed the ball out beyond the arc to Jaquay Randolph.  Randolph hit a three pointer to extend the Warriors lead to 10-6.  The Valkyries continued to challenge as Camden Edmonds and Will Fowler each drove to the basket.  Randolph collected a rebound off a missed shot and put it right back up into the basket.  Fowler drove to the basket and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one and put Converse on top.  However, a layup by Valdy Zephir allowed the Warriors to take the lead once again.  Southern Wesleyan continued to answer Converse's every attack on the net, but the Valkyries pulled ahead as Ethan Brownell and Jordyn Surratt put up back-to-back layups.  Taylor passed the ball out beyond the arc to Josh Park who put up a three pointer to tie the game up at thirty-three.  Converse pulled ahead as Will Fowler put up a jump shot, but Will Little answered as he hit another three pointer.  With seconds left on the clock, Fowler hit a jump shot to give the Valkyries a 52-45 lead going into the locker room.

Converse charged out of the gate in the second half as Jordyn Surratt dunked the ball into the basket.  Southern Wesleyan countered with baskets by Jaquay Randolph and Will Little.  Valdy Zephir drove to the basket and got the ball up for a layup.  Bobby Taylor passed the ball under the basket to Little who put up a layup to keep the Warriors within nine points of Converse.  The Valkyries answered the Warriors every attack on the net with one of their own.  Josh Parker pulled down a rebound off a missed basket by Surratt and passed it down the court to Jaquay Randolph.  Randolph laid the ball up into the basket.  Southern Wesleyan chipped away at Converse's lead as Will Little hit a jump shot to put the Warriors within three points.  Little continued to pressure the Valkyries as he knocked down another three pointer.  Jordyn Surratt stole the ball away from the Warriors and rushed down the court to dunk the ball into the basket.  Southern Wesleyan pressed on as Josh Parker stole the ball away once again and got it to Little who hit another three pointer to tie the game up at eighty-four with just over four minutes on the clock.  Converse pulled away, but the Warriors fought back as Little and Randolph both got the ball up into the basket.  With seconds left on the clock, Josh Parker hit a jump shot.  The Valkyries pushed on as they won the game in a 103-96 final score.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will take on Kennesaw State and the Citadel in exhibition action on December 8 and 9.  They will travel to Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats on December 13.  They will then return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on December 16 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers at 2pm.