Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan dropped a hard fought battle against the Mars Hill Lions on Friday evening in an 105-93 final score.
The Warriors shot 45.2% from the field and were 42.4% from beyond the arc against the Lions. Four players hit double digits in the game with Isaiah Smith leading the team with 33. Malachi Cooper collected 21 points, D'Marcus Thomas had 14 and Jeremiah Camara wrapped up the double digits as he had 10 points in the game. Of the 15 assists the Warriors had, Zion Dixon led the team with five. Smith picked up four and Cooper had three.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 31 rebounds during the game with senior Ceejay Jordan having eight. Jeremiah Camara was next in line as he had five rebounds. Isaiah Smith had two of the three blocks the Warriors acquired. The other block came from Jake Hatch. The Warriors stole the ball away from the Lions three times with Malachi Cooper picking up two steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Mars Hill 105, Southern Wesleyan 93
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-2) Mars Hill (2-0)
How It Happened
The Lions were first on the board as Braeden Carlsen collected a defensive rebound early on and went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up. Seconds later, a foul off a Mars Hill player sent Malachi Cooper to the charity strip. Cooper hit both his shots to tie the game up. Isaiah Smith hit his first three of the afternoon with just under eighteen minutes left in the half. Cooper went on to steal the ball from Keenan Wilkins and pass it down to Smith. Smith quickly put up a mid-range to give the Warriors a 10-5 point lead. Mars Hill answered as Jonathan Burnett got in the paint to hit a jumper. Seconds later, Ryder Strand put up a three pointer to give Mars Hill the advantage. Caiden Brewer tipped the ball into the basket to extend the Lions' lead to three, but the Warriors quickly answered as Jeremiah Camara laid the ball up into the basket. Zion Dixon sent the ball out beyond the arc to RJ Lacossade who sunk a three pointer. With just over five minutes on the clock, Caiden Brewer passed the ball over to Jonathan Burnett who slammed it into the net. A three pointer out of the hands of Brewer gave the Lions a double-digit advantage. Southern Wesleyan fought back as another three pointer by Isaiah Smith allowed them to come back to within eight points of Mars Hill. In the final seconds of the half, Smith put up his fourth three of the game to put the Warriors 44-36 behind the Lions going into the locker room.
Mars Hill kicked off the second half with a layup by Braeden Carlsen. Seconds later, a three pointer out of the hands of Malachi Cooper put the Warriors back within nine. Southern Wesleyan continued to chip away at Mars Hill's advantage as Jackson Moore sunk a three pointer. Ryder Strand continued his impressive showing as he knocked down another three pointer. After Jeremiah Camara laid the ball up into the basket, Jamie Brooks IV got control of the ball and rushed past the Warriors' defense to dunk the ball into the net. With just under thirteen on the clock, Moore passed the ball out to Isaiah Smith who hit yet another three pointer. The Lions would not be stopped though as Strand and Braeden Carlsen put up several more shots. Camara tipped the ball into the basket to allow the Warriors to come back to within nine points of the Lions. Malachi Cooper got the ball into the basket from beyond the arc with just under six minutes on the clock, but Mars Hill answered with layups by Carby Martin and Ryder Strand. Southern Wesleyan continued to fight as D'Marcus Thomas, Cooper and Jake Hatch each hit three pointers. However, Mars Hill claimed the game in an 105-93 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain at home on November 14 as they wrap up the Conference Crossover Tournament by facing the Columbus State Cougars at 3pm. They will then travel to Milledgeville, GA on November 18 to take on the Georgia College Bobcats. The Warriors will open up Conference Carolinas action at home on November 21 as they welcome the King Tornado to Historic Tysinger Gymnasium for a 4pm game.
