Due West, SC – Southern Wesleyan claimed their first Conference Carolinas victory of the season on Saturday afternoon as they took down the Erskine Flying Fleet in a 77-69 final score.

The Warriors shot 38.1% from the field against the Flying Fleet.  Will Little led the team as he collected 16 points.  Behind him, both Jaquay Randolph and Malachi Cooper had 14 points.  Jamarras McCray wrapped up the double-digits in scoring for the Warriors as he had 12 points to his name.  The Warriors had 16 assists in the game with Randolph leading the team with five.  Bobby Taylor had four assists, and both Nathanael Lewis and Cooper had two assists.

Southern Wesleyan pulled down 51 rebounds with Jaquay Randolph accumulating 27 rebounds on his own.  This not only becomes Randolph's ninth double-double game of the season, but allows him to break the school record of rebounds in a game since the transition to NCAA Division II.  He passes the previous record of 24 held by Marcus Bryson.  Of the three blocks, Jamarras McCray had two.  Nathanael Lewis had the other block of the game for the Warriors.  Southern Wesleyan stole the ball away from Erskine three times.

Game Vitals

Final: Southern Wesleyan 77, Erskine 69

Records: Southern Wesleyan (2-9 / CC 1-5) Erskine (0-8 / CC 0-3)

How It Happened

Southern Wesleyan was first on the board as Nathanael Lewis sunk the ball from beyond the arc.  Layups by Valerian Bruce and Noah Castaneda allowed the Flying Fleet to tie the game up at four.  However, the Warriors pressed on as Will Little hit a three pointer off a pass from Lewis.  Little put up another three pointer with just over sixteen minutes left on the clock to extend Southern Wesleyan's lead to 12-6.  Erskine fought back as a three pointer by Andrei Kyle Honrada allowed the Flying Fleet to tie the game up.  Jamarras McCray collected the ball and slammed it into the basket to allow the Warriors to regain the lead.  A three pointer by Max Peeler put Erskine back within one point of Southern Wesleyan.  The Flying Fleet took the lead on another three pointer by Peeler.  The Warriors would not back down as Will Little and Nathanael Lewis hit back-to-back three pointers.  Jaquay Randolph got the ball out to Bobby Taylor who stepped beyond the arc and knocked down a three.  With just under two minutes left in the first half, Malachi Cooper stepped back beyond the arc and hit a three pointer of his own.  A last second three pointer by Anthony Phillips Jr put the Flying Fleet behind the Warriors 34-31 at halftime.

The Warriors extended their lead to five as Valdy Zephir laid the ball up into the basket.  Zephir was fouled in the process to send him to the charity stripe where he made his and-one shot.  Max Peeler knocked down a three pointer to put the Flying Fleet back within three points of the Warriors.  With just under fifteen minutes left in the half, Will Little passed the ball out to Malachi Cooper.  Cooper took a step out behind the arc and hit a three pointer.  Valerian Bruce laid the ball up into the basket, but the Warriors countered as Cooper made a couple more shots on the net.  Jaquay Randolph hit a mid-range jump shot to extend the Warriors lead to nine.  A foul by the Flying Fleet sent Jamarras McCray to the free throw line where he made both of his baskets.  Anthony Phillips Jr put up a three pointer, but the Warriors countered as Josh Parker put up a three pointer of his own to keep the Warriors lead at eleven.  Parker passed the ball down the court to Jamarras McCray.  McCray slammed the ball into the basket.  Erskine continued to fight as Bruce laid the ball up into the basket.  Nic Nichols got the ball over to Dorien Johnson who stepped beyond the arc to put up a three pointer.  With just over two minutes on the clock, Jaquay Randolph passed the ball under the basket to Will Little.  Little laid the ball up into the basket.  Johnson went on a fast break and went coast-to-coast before hitting a mid-range.  However, McCray slammed in another dunk to give the Warriors a 77-69 point victory.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will welcome the Emmanuel Lions to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium on January 7 at 5pm.  The Warriors will host the Bob Jones Bruins on January 8.  They will remain at home on January 10 as they host the King Tornado.