SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team fell 81-75 to Mount Olive on Wednesday night inside the Weisiger Center.
Converse (3-2, 2-1 Conference Carolinas) won the opening tip-off but failed to score on their first offensive possession of the game. Matthias Caver scored the first points of the night with a basket for Mount Olive at the 19:24 mark. Moments later,
Wes Morgan (Charlotte, N.C.) scored the Valkyries first points of the night with a three-pointer. Minutes later the Valkyries held an 8-2 lead over the Trojans and forced Mount Olive to take their first timeout of the game.
Following the timeout break the two squads traded baskets over the next several minutes of game time. The Trojans chipped away at the Valkyries lead and with 6:50 to play in the half Caver dunked the ball through the hoop to tie the match at 20. A few minutes later and the Valkyries found themselves trailing 28-22 following an Alan Treakle three-pointer. Converse went into the halftime intermission trailing 32-29.
Both offenses got off to a hot start in the second half as both teams scored on their first few possessions. With 17:37 remaining left in the game,
Sigurd Lorange (Trondheim, Norway) gave the Valkyries a 41-39 lead with a three-point basket. Over the next 12-minutes of game time the two squads went shot-for-shot and ended up tied at 67 with 4:38 remaining in the match.
In a quick turn of events the Trojans went on a 7-1 run to take the lead once and for all against the Valkyries. Converse attempted to regain the momentum but it was to late as Mount Olive ended the Valkyries two match winning streak.
Lorange led the Valkyries with 28-points in the game, while
Jimmie Sanders III (Dallas, Texas) recorded 25-points in the loss. Sanders finished the night a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line. Morgan recorded 12-points and Eli Pitts (Gainesville, Ga.) posted a team high 9-rebounds in the loss.
Next Up:
The Valkyries will be back in action this Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Weisiger Center.
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