The Matchup
Saturday:
Converse (5-8, 4-5 Conference Carolinas) at Lees-McRae (9-3, 7-2 Conference Carolinas)
Location: Williams Gymnasium/Banner Elk, N.C.
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Live Video
Live Stats
 
The Series:
This will be the second meeting between the two squads this season. The Bobcats defeated Converse 87-80 in the Valkyries last home match before the holiday break. Drew Gardner led all scorers with 33-points and 11-rebounds. Elijah Pitts led the Valkyries with 23-points off the bench, while Sigurd Lorange added 20-points in the loss.
 
Converse Notes:

• Converse is 5-8 overall and 4-5 in Conference Carolinas action this season.
• The Valkyries are coming off a loss to Belmont Abbey on Wednesday night. Lorange led the team with 23-points, while Earl Burgess III contributed 12-points and a team high 6-rebounds in the loss.
• The Valkyries are averaging 69.4 points per game and they are shooting 39 percent from the field. Converse is shooting 28 percent from beyond the arch and 76 percent from the free throw line.
• Converse is averaging 33.5 rebounds per game, 14.0 assists per game, 6.7 steals per game and 4.0 blocks per game.
• Lorange leads the team with 15.5 points per game and has a team best 18 steals. The native of Norway is second on the team with 37 assists this season. Jimmie Sanders III is second on the team in points per game with 13.2, but leads the team with 56 assists.
• Pitts is fourth on the team in points per game with 9.2 and is first in total steals with 19 on the season. The freshman leads the team with 84 total rebounds this season. Earl Burgess III leads the team with 28 total blocks this season.

 
Lees-McRae Notes:

• Lees-McRae is 9-3 overall and 7-2 in Conference Carolinas action this season.
• The Bobcats have won three straight matches dating back to December 18^th. Last time out the Bobcats defeated North Greenville 103-74.
• Lees-McRae is currently averaging 82.9 points per game and they are shooting 47 percent from the field. The Bobcats are shooting 33 percent from three-point range and 69 percent from the free throw line.
• The Bobcats are averaging 40.3 rebounds per game, 17.5 assists per game, 7.5 steals per game and 6.0 blocks per game.
• Four players are averaging double-figures for the season for Lees-McRae, Drew Gardner (16.8 ppg), Malik McConnell (15.3 ppg), Justin Nichelson (13.6 ppg) and Jamarius Hairston (11.0 ppg).
• Gardner leads the team with 88 total rebounds, while McConnell leads the team with 40 assists on the season. Sidney Dollar has a team best 20 steals and Cale Harris has 19 total blocks on the year.

 
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