Daytona Beach, FL – Southern Wesleyan fell in their season opener against Embry-Riddle in an 89-59 final score.
The Warriors shot 36.9% from the field in the loss to the Eagles. Isaiah Smith led the team with 13 points. He was followed by Zion Dixon, who had nine points, and both Malachi Cooper and Ceejay Jordan, who each had seven points. Smith had five of the ten assists.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 26 rebounds in the game with Jeremiah Camara leading the team with six. Jayden Guillaume had the lone block in the game. The Warriors stole the ball away from the Eagles seven times. Malachi Cooper led the team with two steals.
Game Vitals
Final: Embry-Riddle 89, Southern Wesleyan 59
Records: Southern Wesleyan (0-1) Embry-Riddle (1-0)
How It Happened
Embry-Riddle struck first as Jack Klinger dunked the ball into the basket to give the Eagles the lead. Southern Wesleyan answered seconds later as Isaiah Smith sent the ball out beyond the arc to Malachi Cooper. Cooper knocked down a three to give the Warriors a one point lead. The Warriors pressed on as Jake Hatch put up a mid-range. Klinger tipped the ball into the basket to put the Eagles back on top. Their lead was short lived as Zion Dixon laid the ball up into the basket seconds later. With just under twelve minutes left on the clock, Jackson Moore stole the ball away from Sebastian Kramar. Isaiah Smith laid the ball up into the basket off a pass from Moore to keep the Warriors within two. Embry-Riddle pressed on with baskets by Landen Harwood and Logan Lewis. Southern Wesleyan continued to challenge the Eagles as Malachi Cooper laid the ball up into the basket. A last second layup by Relja Vranesevic put the Eagles on top 39-26 going into the locker room.
The Eagles continued to attack the court in the second half as Milan Skoric laid the ball up into the basket. A layup by Zion Dixon kept the Warriors within thirteen. However, Embry-Riddle pressed on as Sebastian Kramar and Jack Klinger each got up shots. A foul by Skoric sent Malachi Cooper to the charity strip where he hit both of his baskets. With just under sixteen minutes on the clock, Demetris Phillips knocked down a three pointer. Jackson Moore put up a mid-range shot. Ceejay Jordan then stole the ball away from Logan Lewis and went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up. Jordan was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket. The Eagles answered with another layup by Kramar. Jayden Guillaume slammed the ball into the basket to put Southern Wesleyan back within twenty. Southern Wesleyan answered Embry-Riddle's shots with several baskets by RJ Lacossade and D'Marcus Thomas. However, the Eagles continued to push further ahead as Kodey Weary laid the ball up. With under a minute and a half on the clock, Andrew Chisley put up a three pointer. The Eagles walked away with an 89-59 point victory as Trey Chisolm got up a layup in the final seconds.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will return to Central, SC on November 13-14 as they host the Conference Challenge. The Warriors will take on the Mars Hill Lions on November 13 at 7pm. They will then wrap up the Conference Challenge on November 14 as they take on Columbus State Cougars at 3pm. Southern Wesleyan will travel to Milledgeville, GA on November 18 to take on the Georgia College Bobcats at 5:30 pm.
