Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Erskine Flying Fleet on Tuesday evening in a 78-67 final score.
The Warriors shot 51.9% from the field and were 38.1% from beyond the arc against the Flying Fleet. Five Warriors posted double digits in the win with both Jaquay Randolph and Josh Parker leading the team with 16 points. Will Little (14), Valdy Zephir (13) and Jamarras McCray (10) also had double digits in the game. Of the 14 assists, Parker had eight.
Southern Wesleyan totaled 31 rebounds in the conference victory. Jaquay Randolph picked up another double-double game as he pulled down 18 boards. Malachi Cooper had both blocks of the game for Southern Wesleyan. The Warriors stole the ball away from the Flying Fleet eight times with Josh Parker recording three steals. Valdy Zephir had two steals awarded to him.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 78, Erskine 67
Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-12 / CC 7-8) Erskine (0-19 / CC 0-14)
How It Happened
The Warriors went on the offensive early as Josh Parker hit a mid-range. Ruben Salazar laid the ball up to put the Flying Fleet on the board, but three pointers by Valdy Zephir and Jamarras McCray put Southern Wesleyan ahead by six. Jaquay Randolph got the ball out to Josh Parker. Parker stepped out beyond the arc and knocked down his first three of the game. Erskine cut Southern Wesleyan's lead down to eight with a layup by KD Gordon. However, Parker stole the ball away from the Flying Fleet and went all the way to the basket to lay the ball up. McCray knocked down another three pointer to extend the Warriors' lead to ten with just under twelve on the clock. Valdy Zephir pulled down a rebound and passed the ball down the court to Will Little. Little drove under the basket to lay the ball up. Erskine answered as Gordon got a pass from Max Peeler and laid the ball up into the basket. Peeler went on to hit a three pointer to put the Flying Fleet back within seven. Little got up another layup, but the Flying Fleet continued their attacks with baskets by Andrei Kyle Honrada and Ruben Salazar. Erskine continued their challenge as another layup by Gordon put them within two. Peeler went on the attack again as he hit a three pointer to give the Flying Fleet their first lead of the game. Erskine led 34-33 going into the locker room.
The Flying Fleet carried their intensity into the second half as Noah Castaneda laid the ball up into the basket. Malachi Cooper drove to the basket and laid the ball up. Cooper was fouled in the process to earn the and-one basket. However, Erskine answered as KD Gordon sunk the ball into the basket from deep beyond the arc to keep their lead at three. Will Little laid the ball up into the basket to allow the Warriors to regain the lead. Southern Wesleyan battled on as Valdy Zephir got up and knocked down a three pointer. A series of fouls sent the Warriors to the charity stripe several more times to extend their lead to 54-42. Josh Parker sent the ball down the court to Jaquay Randolph. Randolph went coast-to-coast and slammed the ball into the basket to extend the Warriors lead to fourteen with just under thirteen on the clock. Josh Parker put up a three pointer with just over ten minutes left in the second half. Gordon laid the ball up into the basket. Randolph wove around the defense and went up for a layup to put Southern Wesleyan ahead 68-52 with just under five minutes on the clock. Dorien Johnson slammed the ball into the basket for the Flying Fleet, but Malachi Cooper followed it up with a layup to give the Warriors a 78-67 point victory over Erskine.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will hit the road to Pembroke, NC on February 14 to take on the UNC Pembroke Braves at 4pm. They will remain on the road on February 18 as they travel over to Bristol, TN to face the King Tornado. The Warriors will host their final home game of the season on February 21 against the Belmont Abbey Crusaders.
