Charleston, SC – Southern Wesleyan fell in their exhibition game against The Citadel in a 98-73 final score on Tuesday evening.
The Warriors shot 40% from the field and were 39.1% from beyond the arc. Malachi Cooper led the team as he went 4-5 from the arc and totaled 16 points. Valdy Zephir also had double digits in scoring as he collected 10 points. Southern Wesleyan had 11 assists with senior Bobby Taylor leading the team with four. Jaquay Randolph had three assists and Josh Parker had two assists.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 44 rebounds in the loss to The Citadel. Jaquay Randolph picked up 11 rebounds. Valdy Zephir, Will Little and Jamarras McCray each blocked attacks by the Bulldogs. The Warriors had three steals in the game.
Game Vitals
Final: The Citadel 98, Southern Wesleyan 73
Records: Southern Wesleyan (1-6 / CC 0-3) The Citadel (3-7)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan won the opening tip off of the game. Jaquay Randolph passed the ball out to Valdy Zephir who hit an early three pointer to give the Warriors the advantage. The Warriors pressed on as Malachi Cooper put up a mid-range jump shot to extend the Warriors lead to 5-0. A foul by the Warriors sent Carter Kingsbury to the charity stripe. Kingsbury hit one of his shots to put The Citadel on the board. The Bulldogs pressed on as Eze Wali put up several shots to put them within one point to the Warriors. Will Little took the ball all the way to the basket and laid it up to extend the Warriors lead back to three with just over sixteen minutes left on the clock. Josh Parker got up a jump shot, but The Citadel answered as Dante Kearse put up a three pointer. The Bulldogs fought back as Logan Applegate was able to get the ball over to Dante Kearse. Kearse knocked down a three pointer to tie the game up at fifteen. The tie was short lived as Sola Adebisi slammed the ball into the basket to give the Bulldogs the lead. Kearse hit a couple more three pointers before Will Little was able to hit a mid-range jump shot. A jump shot out of the hands of Malachi Cooper put the Warriors back within ten points of the Bulldogs. Bobby Taylor passed the ball out beyond the arc to Kenyon Addie who hit a three pointer to cut The Citadel's lead down to 31-24. The Warriors and Bulldogs exchanged three point baskets, but the Warriors kept the game within four as Malachi Cooper hit a three pointer. The Bulldogs went on an eleven point run to force the Warriors to call a timeout. Coming out of the time out, Malachi Cooper knocked down another three pointer for his tenth point of the game. The Warriors pressed on in the final minute of the half as Will Little hit a three pointer. Last second layups by Gabe Hernandez and Keynan Davis allowed the Bulldogs to lead 54-40 going into the locker room.
The Warriors struck first in the second half as Jaquay Randolph hit a mid-range shot. Bobby Taylor hit a jump shot, but the Bulldogs fought back with a three pointer by Braxton Williams. Williams was able to get the ball away from the Warriors and got it to Gabe Hernandez who quickly got the ball into the hands of Sola Adebisi. Adebisis hit a three pointer to extend The Citadel's lead to 19. Josh Parker was able to get the ball over to Malachi Cooper. The freshman knocked down another three pointer. Moments later, Cooper hit another three pointer, but the Bulldogs answered with a three pointer by Keynan Davis. Sola Adebisi put up a three pointer to extend the Bulldogs lead to 81-57. Josh Parker answered as he hit a three pointer of his own. However, Braxton Williams would not relent his attacks on the basket as he scored five more points for the Bulldogs. With three minutes left in the half, Hudson Yarbrough laid the ball up into the basket. Despite a couple last second baskets by Ashton Williams and David Witcher, the Warriors fell to the Bulldogs in a 98-73 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will resume Conference Carolinas action on December 13 as they travel up to Banner Elk, NC to take on the Lees-McRae Bobcats at 4pm. The Warriors will return to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on December 16 as they host the North Greenville Trailblazers at 2pm.
