Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Bob Jones Bruins in 101-94 overtime thriller on Thursday evening. 

The Warriors shot 44.9% from the field and were 34.2% from beyond the arc during the game.  Jaquay Randolph led the team as he went 7-11 from the field and 8-10 at the charity stripe for 22 points.  Right on his heels, both Bobby Taylor and Valdy Zephir had 21 points in the game.  Will Little was the final Warrior in double-digits as he totaled 18 points.  Southern Wesleyan collected 21 assists in the game with Taylor leading the team with six.  Josh Parker followed with five assists and Randolph had four.

Southern Wesleyan pulled down 41 rebounds.  Forward Jaquay Randolph picked up yet another double-double game as he totaled 25 boards in the non-conference victory.  Randolph went on to have the lone block of the game for the Warriors.  Of the 10 steals, both Randolph and Josh Parker had four.  The final two steals of the game came out of the hands of Malachi Cooper.

Game Vitals

Final: Southern Wesleyan 101, Bob Jones 94

Records: Southern Wesleyan (4-9 / CC 2-5) Bob Jones (2-7)

How It Happened

Bob Jones went on the attack quickly as Shad Vander Hart stole the ball away from Southern Wesleyan and sent it down the court to Bryson Felder.  Felder slammed it into the basket to give the Bruins the early advantage.  Southern Wesleyan answered as Will Little knocked down a three, but Bob Jones pushed on as Justin Skelton and Felder put up back-to-back three pointers to keep the Bruins on top.  Southern Wesleyan battled back as Jaquay Randolph collected a missed shot by the Bruins and got the ball out to Bobby Taylor.  Taylor put up a mid-range basket to give the Warriors a one point lead.  The Bruins would not back down as Skelton stepped beyond the arc and put up another three pointer.  With just under eight minutes left in the half, Josh Parker was able to get the ball out to Valdy Zephir who stepped right out side of the arc and hit a three pointer to tie the game up at twenty-five.  The Bruins rallied as a Vander Hart stole the ball away and went coast-to-coast to layup it up.  The layup triggered a run by the Bruins as they took a twelve point lead before a layup by Zephir stopped their attacks.  Bob Jones led 49-31 going into the locker room.

The Bruins continued where they left off in the second half as Justin Skelton hit an early jump shot.  However, a mid-range by Valdy Zephir and then a three pointer out of the hands of Bobby Taylor kept the Warriors within fifteen.  Taylor got up and pulled down a rebound and passed it deep down the court to Will Little.  Little sprung up and slammed the ball into the basket on a fast break.  Another dunk, this time out of the hands of Zephir, allowed the Warriors to cut Bob Jones' lead down to nine.  The Bruins answered as Trevor Pittman knocked down a three pointer.  Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge as a three pointer out of the hands of Taylor put them back within one point of the Bruins.  Braxton Murray got the ball out to Brandon Wilkins who hit a three pointer.  Three pointers by Murray and Skelton put the Bruins back on top by six with just under nine minutes left in the second half.  The Warriors would not back down as Josh Parker hit a three pointer to tie the game up at seventy-eight.  Bob Jones regained the lead, but, in the final seconds of the half, Will Little knocked down a three from deep beyond the arc to tie the game up and force it to go into overtime.

The Warriors charged out of the gate in the five minute overtime period.  Malachi Cooper collected a pass by Josh Parker before stepping outside the arc and hitting a three.  Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up into the basket from in the paint.  A series of fouls by the Bruins sent several Warriors to the charity stripe where they went seven for eight to give Southern Wesleyan a 101-94 point victory over Bob Jones.

What's Next

The Warriors will resume Conference Carolinas action on January 10 as they host the King Tornado.  On Monday, January 12, the Warriors will take on Mid-Atlantic Christian at 6pm.  Southern Wesleyan will travel to Ferrum, VA on January 17 to take on the Ferrum Panthers.