Ferrum, VA – Southern Wesleyan fell to the Ferrum Panthers on the road on Saturday afternoon in a 92-85 final score.
The Warriors shot 43.3% from the field in the loss to the Panthers. Will Little led the team with 23 points. He was followed by Valdy Zephir (20 points), Jaquay Randolph (17 points) and Bobby Taylor (14 points). Of the 10 assists in the game, both Josh Parker and Jamarras McCray had three.
Southern Wesleyan collected 29 rebounds in the game with Jaquay Randolph leading the team with nine. Valdy Zephir had the lone block of the game for the Warriors. Of the six steals, both Josh Parker and Malachi Cooper recorded two.
Game Vitals
Final: Ferrum 92, Southern Wesleyan 85
Records: Southern Wesleyan (5-11 / CC 2-7) Ferrum (8-6 / CC 7-2)
How It Happened
An early foul sent Rodrigue Farias to the charity stripe. Farias hit both his shots to allow the Panthers to take the lead. Josh Parker stole the ball away from the Panthers and got it over to Will Little. Little slammed the ball into the basket to get the Warriors on the board. Ferrum continued the pressure as Gerran Jones hit a three pointer. With just over fifteen on the clock, Valdy Zephir hit a three pointer and was fouled on the shot to earn the and-one basket. The Panthers continued to push ahead as Farias got past the Warriors' defense and laid the ball up into the basket. Ferrum extended their lead to nine as Farias and Alfredo Abel-Rivera got up a couple mid-range jump shots. Malachi Cooper was able to pass the ball inside the arc to Zephir. Zephir got up a mid-range shot to keep Southern Wesleyan within striking distance. The Warriors continued to chip away at the Panthers lead as Kenyon Addie and Cooper each knocked down three point shots. Another layup by Zephir allowed the Warriors to cut the Panthers lead down to four. Ferrum pressed on as a mid-range by Farias allowed the Panthers to lead 46-37 going into the locker room.
An early foul by the Panthers in the second half sent Will Little to the free throw line. Little hit one of his shots to cut Ferrum's lead down to eight. However, a mid-range by Rodrigo Farias allowed the Panthers to regain their ten point advantage. Farias continued his attacks against the Warriors as he put up another three pointer. Valdy Zephir got around the defense and put up a mid-range shot. With just over fifteen minutes left in the game, Bobby Taylor sent the ball out to Will Little. Little stepped back and put up a three pointer. The Panthers pressed on as a three pointer by Abdulh Diaby allowed them to extend their lead to eighteen. Southern Wesleyan fought back with mid-range shots by Little and Valdy Zephir. Little laid the ball up into the basket and was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket. Josh Parker stole the ball away from the Panthers and got it out to Will Little who hit another three pointer for Southern Wesleyan. The Warriors cut the Panthers lead down to six as Little hit yet another three. However, the Warriors fell to the Panthers in the end in a 92-85 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on January 21 as they host the Shorter Hawks at 7pm. They will then host the University of Mount Olive Trojans on January 24 at 4pm. The Warriors will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on January 27.
