SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team fell 80-72 to Barton College on Monday night inside the Weisiger Center.
Converse (5-21, 4-16 Conference Carolinas) came out swinging in the opening moments of the game as they raced out to a 15-4 lead. Barton (12-12, 10-10 Conference Carolinas) then countered with a run of their own and from then on, the two squads went shot-for-shot. The game included four ties and five lead changes, with Barton edging out the Valkyries in the final moments to steal a victory against Converse.
1st Half Notes:
- Barton won the opening tip-off but it was Earl Burgess III (Spartanburg, S.C.) who scored the opening basket of the game.
- Converse opened the game on an 15-4 run and held the lead for the first 15 minutes of the game.
- Barton slowly chipped away at the Valkyries lead, following a 24-12 run the Bulldogs took their first lead of the match with 5:27 to play in the half.
- The Bulldogs finished the first half on a 9-4 run and took a 39-33 lead going into the halftime intermission.
- Converse shot 46 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line.
- Barton shot 51 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line.
2nd Half Notes:
- Coming out of the halftime break, each time recorded a three-pointer to start the scoring in the second half.
- The Valkyries hung around with the Bulldogs for the majority of the half and with 6:39 to play in the game Converse finally tied the match again at 64.
- Earl Burgess III gave the Valkyries their first lead of the half with a dunk at the five-minute mark of the period.
- The Valkyries lead was short lived as Barton ended the game on a 14-4 run to steal the victory away from Converse.
- Converse shot 50 percent rom the field, 58 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line.
- Barton shot 57 percent from the field, 44 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line.
Notables:
- Sanders III led the Valkyries with 14 points and he finished second on the team with 5 assists. Jordan Warlick (Irmo, S.C.), Elijah Pitts (Gainesville, Ga.) and Burgess III all contributed 12-points in the loss. Pitts recorded his third double-double of the season and tied his career high with 13 rebounds. Sigurd Lorange led the Valkyries with 7 assists on the night.
- Trevon Spencer led the Bulldogs with 22 points, Donaven Hairston finished with 18 points and Marcus Boykin contributed 16 points in the win. Spencer also led the team with 4 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. David Campbell led the Bulldogs with 8 rebounds.
Next Up:
The Valkyries will hit the road this Wednesday with a trip to Erskine, tip-off is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.
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