ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team fell 78-40 to Winthrop University on Friday afternoon in an exhibition match at the Winthrop Coliseum.
Converse won the opening tip-off against the defending Big South champions but
Earl Burgess III (Spartanburg, S.C.) missed the first shot of the game. Seconds later Burgess III caused the first turnover of the game as he stole the ball from Cory Hightower.
Over two-minutes of game time elapsed before either team was able to make a basket. D.J. Burns Jr recorded the first official basket for either team at the 17:48 mark of the first half. With 16:43 to play in the period,
Elijah Pitts (Gainesville, Ga.) picked off a pass from Micheal Anumba and scored a fastbreak layup to tie the game at two. Pitts converted a free throw attempt and the Valkyries led 3-2 over the Eagles.
Winthrop's Josh Corbin knocked down a three-pointer on the Eagles next possession and jump started a 7-0 run.
Nate Gordon ended the Valkyries scoring drought with a fastbreak dunk at the 14:07 mark of the first period. A few minutes later
Bailey Wiseman made a three-pointer off a turnover and the Valkyries trailed 18-8. A layup by Burgess III kept the Valkyries within striking distance of Winthrop.
Converse went into the halftime break down 38-16, the Valkyries held Winthrop to 33 percent shooting from the field and 35 percent shooting from three-point range.
Winthrop opened up the second half on a 9-1 run over the Valkyries and prompted Converse to take their first timeout of the second half. Wiseman scored the Valkyries first field goal of the second half with a three-point basket at the 16:02 mark of the second half. A few minutes later
Jay Mitchell connected on a three-pointer to help out the Valkyries offense.
Following a four-minute scoring drought,
Jordan Warlick connected with Mitchell for the alley-oop slam. A few minutes later
Sigurd Lorange recorded a three-pointer to give the Valkyries their 30
th point of the game.
Jimmie Sanders III jump started a late 8-0 run by Converse but it was not enough as the Valkyries ran out of time.
Sanders III led the team with nine points on the afternoon, Mitchell finished with seven points and Lorange and Wiseman each contributed six points in the loss. Pitts led the team with six rebounds, while Burgess III recorded a pair of blocks in the matchup.
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will be back against Emmanuel College on Tuesday, January 4
th at 7:00 p.m. The Valkyries next home game will be on Friday, January 7
th against Chowan University at 7:00 p.m.
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