Central, SC – Southern Wesleyan took down the Belmont Abbey Crusaders on Saturday afternoon in a 79-69 final score.
The Warriors shot 41.3% from the field and were 27.6% from beyond the arc in the Saturday conference match-up. Jaquay Randolph led the team with 19 points. Right behind him, Will Little had 18 points, Josh Parker had 14 and Jamarras McCray had 12. Of the Warriors 11 assists in the game, Randolph had four. Behind him Parker had three and Little had two.
Southern Wesleyan pulled down 39 rebounds in the game with Jaquay Randolph picking up yet another double-double game as he had 21 rebounds. Randolph, Will Little and Josh Parker each had blocks in the game. Of the six steals the Warriors had, Malachi Cooper led the team with three.
Game Vitals
Final: Southern Wesleyan 79, Belmont Abbey 69
Records: Southern Wesleyan (12-13 / CC 9-9) Belmont Abbey (7-18 / CC 5-14)
How It Happened
Southern Wesleyan charged out of the gates as Josh Parker knocked down an early three pointer. The Warriors continued to shut out the Crusaders as Valdy Zephir put up a mid-range and Parker hit another three pointer. They continued to keep Belmont Abbey off the board for the first seven minutes of the game before Shane Potts put up a three pointer to put them behind the Warriors 16-3. Jamarras McCray laid the ball up into the basket, but the Crusaders answered with a layup by Elijah Burnette to keep them within ten points of the Warriors. Parker sent the ball out beyond the arc to Will Little who got up to put up a three pointer. Belmont Abbey answered as they went on a six point run that was spear headed by a mid-range out of the hands of Franklin Davis. Parker put up another three pointer, but Daniel Lubamba knocked down a three of his own to put the Crusaders back within four points of Southern Wesleyan. A jump shot by Burnette made it a one possession game. However, Jamarras McCray hit a three pointer to put the Warriors back on top by four with just over a minute left in the game. Despite a dunk by Myles Smith in the final seconds, the Warriors led the Crusaders 36-32 going into the locker room.
Will Little kicked off the second half for the Warriors by laying the ball up into the basket. Belmont Abbey quickly countered with a three pointer out of the hands of Judah Ravenell. Malachi Cooper stepped out behind the arc and knocked down a three pointer. After Cooper stole the ball away from the Crusaders, Josh Parker put up a shot from inside the paint to allow the Warriors to regain their nine point lead. The Crusaders continued their challenges as Myles Smith laid the ball up into the basket and then Elijah Burnett hit a three pointer. With just over eleven on the clock, Franklin Davis hit a three pointer. Will Little put up a mid-range seconds later to tie the game back up at fifty. Southern Wesleyan would not back down as Copper got up a mid-range. Jaquay Randolph stole the ball away from the Crusaders and went coast-to-cost to lay the ball up into the basket. Three pointers by Jamarras McCray and Josh Parker allowed Southern Wesleyan to take a four point lead over Belmont Abbey with just under three minutes on the clock. The Warriors would not relent as McCray slammed the ball into the basket in the final seconds to win the game in a 79-69 final.
What's Next
Southern Wesleyan will wrap up the regular season on the road as they travel to take on the Francis Marion Patriots on February 23. They will then go to Franklin Springs, GA on February 25 to take on the Emmanuel Lions.
