The Matchup
Friday:
Converse (0-0) at Mars Hill (0-0)
Location: Mars Hill, N.C.
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Live Video
Live Stats
 
 
Saturday:
Converse (0-0) vs Wingate (0-0)
Location: Mars Hill, N.C.
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Live Video
Live Stats
 
 
How to Watch:
The South Atlantic Conference has signed a multi-year deal with Flosports and all games will be shown on the platform this weekend. Fans will have to pay to watch this weekend's games on Flosports.
 
The Series:
The Valkyries are 1-0 all-time against Mars Hill, last season Converse played Mars Hill in their first ever basketball game and defeated the Lions 93-82. Four Valkyries scored in double-figures, with Sigurd Lorange leading the way with 26-points against Mars Hill. This will be the Valkyries first trip to Mars Hill.
 
Converse is 0-1 all-time against Wingate, with the Valkyries lone loss coming last season 79-63 to the Bulldogs. This will be the first time the two teams have met at a neutral site location. Last Season, Jimmie Sanders led the team with 28-points and Jordan Warlick contributed 10-points in the loss.  
 
Converse Notes:

• Converse will be looking to start the season 1-0 for the second consecutive season. Last season, the Valkyries started their program with a win over Mars Hill.
• Nick Pasqua steps in as the Valkyries new coach, Pasqua brings championship coaching experience to the Valkyries youthful team. Pasqua won a conference championship at Southern Wesleyan a few seasons ago.
• Sigurd Lorange, Earl Burgess III and Jordan Warlick were once again named to the Conference Carolinas preseason watch list. Lorange returns as the Valkyries leading scorer with 14.8 points per game, while Burgess III finished second on the team with 11.0 points per game last season.
• Burgess III also led the team in field goal percentage (.570), offensive rebounds (50) and blocked shots (43). Lorange, meanwhile, led the team in three-pointers made (52), assists (83) and assists to turnover ratio (1.38).
• Also returning for the Valkyries this season is Elijah Pitts, Jay Mitchell and Landon Harrington. Pitts led the team in steals and total rebounds during his freshman season.
• In the offseason the Valkyries added Kevin Vance, Trey Smith, NyGel Boozer, Uzziah Dawkins, Aaron Porcil, Mikal Gjerde and Bosko Bojovic.

 
 
Mars Hill Notes:

• Mars Hill went 6-21 overall and 6-18 in South Atlantic Conference play last season. The Lions went 0-2 last season in the tip-off classic against Converse and Belmont Abbey.
• The Lions were 4-8 at home last season but they were just 2-13 away from campus.
• Last season, the Lions averaged 73 points per game, shot 42 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point range and 65 percent from the free throw line.
• Mars Hill also averaged 38.0 rebounds per game, 11.0 assists per game, 6.2 steals per game and 4.2 blocks per game.
• Kadyn Dawkins led the team in points per game last season with 13.9 and assists per game at 2.7. Michael Houge finished second on the team with 11.0 points per game last year. Houge led the team with a 50 percent field goal percentage and he shot 25 percent from beyond the arch.
• The Lions lost their top two shot blockers from last season in Isayah Johnson and Isaiah Jones.

 
 
Wingate Notes:

• The Bulldogs 21-8 overall last season and 17-7 in South Atlantic Conference action. Wingate ended their season with a loss in the quarterfinals round of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship.
• Wingate was 12-2 at home last season inside Cuddy Arena but they were just 9-6 away from campus.
• The Bulldogs averaged 79.1 points per game and shot 44 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.
• Wingate averaged 38.7 rebounds per game last season, 15.0 assists per game, 7.2 steals per game and 1.7 blocks per game.
• Jarren Cottingham led the team last season in total points (469) and scoring average (16.2). While Donell Nixon II finished second on the team with 11.3 points per game and led the team with 130 assists and 51 steals.
• Destin Clark led the team with 183 total rebounds, while Rashaard Pringle and Quantra Taylor tied for the team lead in blocks with 13.

 
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