SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Jimmie Sanders III (Dallas, Texas) scored a program record 28-points on Saturday night but it was not enough as the Converse University men's basketball team fell 79-63 to Wingate University.
Wingate (2-0) won the opening tip-off and knocked down a three-pointer on their first possession of the game.
Sigurd Lorange (Trondheim, Norway) for the second night in a row scored the first basket of the game for the Valkyries. The Bulldogs then went on a 9-0 run and took a 12-3 lead into the first media timeout of the evening.
Coming out of the timeout break neither team scored for nearly two minutes of game time.
Jordan Warlick (Irmo, S.C.) ended the Valkyries scoring drought with a layup at the 14:35 mark. Moments later
Jay Mitchell (Clemmons, N.C.) brought the crowd to their feet with a put back dunk to pull the Valkyries within five-points of the Bulldogs. At the 13:42 mark of the opening period, Eli Pitts (Gainesville, Ga.) hit a three-pointer and the Valkyries had clawed their way back to within a pair of Wingate.
At the 12:42 juncture of the half Andreas Wilson hit a three-pointer to silence the crowd and end the Valkyries run. Over the next several minutes of game time the two squads traded baskets and the Valkyries stayed within two possessions of the Bulldogs. With 7:19 to play in the period Jarren Cottingham hit a three-pointer to give Wingate a 26-17 lead. For the remainder of the half the Bulldogs held a double-digit advantage over the Valkyries. Going into the halftime break Converse (1-1) trailed 41-31 to Wingate.
In the first 10-minutes of the second half the Bulldogs offense was nearly unstoppable as they went on a 20-7 run against Converse. The Valkyries attempted to get back in the match, but they were unable to find a rhythm offensively and fell 79-63.
Sanders led the team in points (28), steals (3) and assists (3). The junior guard also hauled in a trio of rebounds in the loss to Wingate. Warlick finished second on the team with 10-points in the game.
Earl Burgess III (Spartanburg, S.C.) led the team with four blocks and Mitchell hauled in a team high six-rebounds.
Jarren Cottingham led the Bulldogs with a 17-point, 5-assist and three-steal outing. Rashaard Pringle and Andreas Wilson each added 15-points in the win for Wingate.
Next Up:
The Valkyries will have a week to prepare for their conference opener against King University next Saturday. The game is set for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off inside the Weisiger Center.
Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter:
@Valkyries_MBB
Instagram:
@valkyries_mbb
Youtube.com/Converse Athletics
