Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the University of Mount Olive Trojans in overtime on Friday evening in a 107-102 final score.
The Warriors shot 55.1% from the field and were 34.8% from beyond the arc in the overtime victory. Will Little led the team as he totaled 30 points including going 10-10 in free throws. Behind him, four other Warriors posted double digits. Senior Bobby Taylor had 21 points. Jaquay Randolph picked up 15 points with Malachi Cooper (14 points) and Josh Parker (12 points) wrapping up the double digit scoring for the Warriors. Of the 16 assists in the game, Randolph led the team with five. Taylor followed with four.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 28 rebounds during the game. Jaquay Randolph had nine while Jamarras McCray followed with seven. Randolph had four blocks during the game. Josh Parker, Valdy Zephir and Malachi Cooper each had solo blocks. The Warriors had eight steals with Bobby Taylor leading the team with three.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 107, Mount Olive 102
Records: Southern Wesleyan (7-11 / CC 4-7) Mount Olive (8-11 / CC 5-6)
How It Happened
An early three pointer by Shane Peterson allowed the Trojans to claim the first points of the game. Will Little followed as he laid the ball up into the basket to put the Warriors on the board. Mount Olive took a three point lead as Jaevian Alston laid the ball up into the basket. Southern Wesleyan was not discouraged as Jamarras McCray pulled down a rebound and passed it down the court to Little. Little got up and slammed the ball into the basket to keep the Warriors within six. With just under ten minutes left in the first half, Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up into the basket to give Southern Wesleyan their first lead of the game. It was short lived as Jefferson McLamb knocked down a three pointer, but the Warriors answered with a three pointer out of the hands of Little. The Trojans regained the advantage, but the Warriors continued their challenges as Valdy Zephir hit a three pointer. Bobby Taylor stole the ball away from the Trojans and went coast-to-coast to lay it up into the basket. A layup in the final seconds of the half by Christopher Brown allowed Mount Olive to lead 37-35 going into the locker room.
Mount Olive extended their lead to four early in the second half as Jaevian Alston laid the ball up into the basket. However, the Warriors tied the game up on back-to-back baskets by Josh Parker and Will Little. Little stole the ball away from Shawn Wilson and got it down the court to Jaquay Randolph who quickly laid the ball up into the basket to give Southern Wesleyan a three point advantage. The Warriors distanced themselves from the Trojans as Bobby Taylor laid the ball up into the basket. Mount Olive would not back down as Jefferson McLamb knocked down yet another three pointer. With just under fourteen on the clock, Randolph got the ball under the net to Jamarras McCray who slammed it in for a dunk. A layup by Randolph allowed the Warriors to extend their lead to ten. The Trojans answered with layups by Alston and Micah Jones. Malachi Cooper collected a pass from Bobby Taylor and side stepped outside the arc to knock down another three. Cooper continued to attack the net as seconds later he netted another three pointer. Back-to-back layups by Jaevian Alston put the Trojans back within five. Shane Peterson hit a couple more three pointers for Mount Olive, but the Warriors were able to stay on top as Cooper hit another three of his own. Mount Olive regained the lead, but a last second layup by Cooper allowed the Warriors to tie the game up at ninety-one at the end of the second half to force the game to go into overtime.
Raul Perez stole the ball away from the Warriors early in the over time period and went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up into the basket. However, Will Little dunked the ball into the basket to allow the Warriors to take the lead right back. Shane Peterson knocked down a three pointer, but Southern Wesleyan answered with back-to-back layups by Little and Bobby Taylor. In the final seconds of the game Taylor got up another layup. Jaevian Alston laid the ball up for the Trojans, but it was not enough as the Warriors claimed a 107-102 point victory over Mount Olive.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will host the Young Harris Mountain Lions on January 29 at 7pm. They will then travel down to Florence, SC on January 31 to take on the Francis Marion Patriots. On February 4, the Warriors will welcome the Barton Bulldogs to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium.
