SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team fell 72-68 to Francis Marion inside the Weisiger Center.
 
Converse won the opening tipoff and Earl Burgess III (Spartanburg, S.C.) scored the first basket of the game. Nick Silva hit a three-pointer at the other end of the court to give Francis Marion their first points of the game. The sides then traded baskets over the next several possessions and Converse held a 9-8 advantage at the first media timeout.
 
At the 10:56 mark of the first half the Patriots made the first run of the game, Ja'lil Robinson knocked down a three-pointer that jump started a 9-2 run. The Converse offense quickly countered with a 13-2 run of their own. With 3:02 to play in the half Nate Gordon threw down a jam to give the Valkyries a 33-28 advantage.
 
Francis Marion ended the period on a 7-0 run to take a 35-33 lead into the intermission break. The Valkyries shot 58 percent from the field and held Francis Marion to 37 percent shooting in the opening stanza.
 
Almost two-minutes of game time elapsed before Jose Benitez scored the first basket of the second half. Over the next several minutes of game time both teams traded buckets but the Patriots still held the lead. Then with 7:47 to play Elijah Pitts stolen the ball and found Burgess III for the go-ahead slam at 52-51.
 
The Valkyries offense continued to click as they upped their defensive pressure against Francis Marion. With 3:45 to play in the game, Converse held a 63-56 advantage over the Patriots. Francis Marion used a 7-0 run to tie the game at 63.
 
Trailing 67-65 with 56 seconds to go in the game, Converse called a timeout to setup a play. Out of the timeout break freshman guard Jay Mitchell (Clemmons, N.C.) knockdown a go-ahead three-pointer. On the Patriots next possession, Tionne Rollins sucked the life out of the Weisiger Center with a three-pointer at the top of the key.
 
The Valkyries raced up the court and Sigurd Lorange threw up a last second shot that bounced off the rim. Rollins got the rebound and hit a pair of free throws with just three seconds to go on the clock.
 
Burgess III led the team both offensively and defensively with his second double-double of the season. The freshman standout led the team with 18-points and 11-rebounds against the Patriots. Mitchell finished second on the team with 16-points, while Lorange posted his first double-double of the season. The sophomore guard finished with 14-points and a team best 10-assists in the loss.  
 
Next Up:
The Valkyries next game will be on the road against North Greenville on Tuesday night, tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Tigerville, S.C.  
 
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