Pembroke, NC – Southern Wesleyan fell to the UNC Pembroke Braves in double overtime on Saturday in a 113-110 final score.
The Warriors shot 52.9% from the field and were 40.76% from beyond the arc. Five players reached double digits in the game with Josh Parker leading the team with 32 points. Will Little was the next highest Warrior in scoring as he had 26 points. Behind them, both Jaquay Randolph and Malachi Cooper each had 21 points. Valdy Zephir wrapped up the scoring for the Warriors as he had 10 points. Southern Wesleyan had four assists in the game.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 38 rebounds in the game with Jaquay Randolph leading the team with 18 boards. Randolph went on to have two of the three blocks in the game. The other block came off the hands of Valdy Zephir. Of the Warriors four steals, Malachi Cooper had two and both Josh Parker and Will Little had one.
Game Vitals
Final: UNC Pembroke 113, Southern Wesleyan 110
Records: Southern Wesleyan (10-13 / CC 7-9) UNC Pembroke (16-7 / CC 13-2)
How It Happened
Mahmoud Bangura scored the first points of the game for the Braves as he laid the ball up into the basket. The Warriors took the lead as Malachi Cooper and Josh Parker each hit three pointers. Will Little stole the ball away from Bangura and passed it down the court to Parker. Parker put up a mid-range shot to give the Warriors an 8-4 point lead. Sean Burress Jr answered with a mid-range of his own to put UNC Pembroke within two points of Southern Wesleyan. Cooper knocked down his third three pointer of the game to allow the Warriors to regain their four point lead. The Braves fought back as Joe'l Pettiford and Burress got up shots to tie the game up at eighteen. Nygell Verdier stole the ball away from the Warriors and went coast-to-coast to lay the ball up into the basket to give the Braves the lead. Josh Parker stepped beyond the arc and hit a three pointer to keep Southern Wesleyan within three. The Braves pressed on as Pettiford tipped the ball into the basket off a rebound. Jaquay Randolph was fouled while making a layup to earn the and-one basket. Randolph hit a couple more shots, however the Warriors trailed the Braves 47-39 going into the locker room.
An early foul by the Braves sent Jaquay Randolph to the charity stripe to kick-off the second half. Randolph hit both his free throws to put the Warriors within six. Joe'l Pettiford tipped the ball into the basket, but the Warriors countered as Will Little put the ball into the basket from beyond the arc. With just over seventeen minutes on the clock, Malachi Cooper stepped out beyond the arc and knocked down another three. UNC Pembroke countered with a three pointer out of the hands of Quay Watson. Will Little and Valdy Zephir got up back-to-back baskets. Little laid the ball up into the basket and was fouled by Pettiford to send him to the charity stripe to earn the and-one basket and tie the game up at fifty-six. UNC Pembroke regained the lead, but it was short lived as Zephir hit a three pointer. With just over nine minutes left in the clock, Valdy Zephir tipped the ball into the basket off a missed shot. A three pointer out of the hands of Quay Watson tied the game up once again. The Warriors and Braves continued to battle back-and-fourth, however the game remained tied at the end of the second half to force it into overtime.
Southern Wesleyan struck first in the first overtime period as a foul by the Braves sent Jaquay Randolph to the charity stripe. Randolph hit one of his shots. However, seconds later, Quay Watson hit a three pointer to give the Braves the lead. The Warriors regained the lead as Will Little put up a mid-range shot. Dallas Whitney laid the ball up into the basket, but free throw shots by Little kept the game tied up.
In the second overtime period, Jaquay Randolph laid the ball up into the basket. The Braves countered as Quay Watson laid the ball up. UNC Pembroke would not relent as with just over four minutes on the clock Dallas Whitney knocked down a three pointer. However a jump shot by Josh Parker tied the game up once again. The Braves pressed on as Nygell Verdier and Mahmoud Bangura each got up shots. Despite a last second three pointer by Parker, the Warriors fell to the Braves in a 113-110 final score.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will remain on the road on February 18 as they travel up to Bristol, TN to take on the King Tornado. They will then return to Central, SC on February 21 to host the Belmont Abbey Crusaders. The Warriors will travel to Florence, SC on February 23 to take on the Francis Marion Patriots.
