SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat Lenoir-Rhyne 83-76 on Tuesday evening inside the Weisiger Center.
With the win the Valkyries improve to 5-0 on the season and continue the best start in program history. Meanwhile, Lenoir-Rhyne falls to 2-2 overall on the season. For Converse the win on Tuesday night was also their first ever win over the Bears in program history.
Uzziah Dawkins led the Valkyries with 18-points,
CJ Jamison and
Joel Pullen finished second on the team with 14-points,
Edoardo Buffo added 13-points and
Leo Da Campo added 12-points. It was the first time all season, all five starters finished the game in double-figures.
First Half Notes:
- Lenoir-Rhyne won the opening tipoff and missed the opening shot of the game, the Valkyries missed their first shot of the contest at the other end of the court a few seconds later.
- Chase Mebane scored the first points of the game with a layup at the 18:55 mark of the half. Edoardo Buffo scored the first points of the match for Converse with 18:42 to play in the period. Moments later, CJ Jamison gave the Valkyries their first lead of the game at 5-4 following a three-pointer.
- The two teams continued to match one another shot-for-shot and went into the first media timeout tied at 10.
- With 11:34 to play in the opening stanza, Percy Fyle gave Lenoir-Rhyne a six point lead following a layup. This was the first time the Bears had begun to pull away from the Valkyries in the first half.
- The Bears lead grew to as much as 14-points late in the first half, before the Valkyries countered with timely runs. The Valkyries went into the halftime break trailing 43-33.
- Converse shot 34 percent from the field, 38 percent from three point range and 100 percent from the free throw line in the first half.
Second Half Notes:
- In the second half, the Valkyries came out more focused against the Bears and with 18:36 to play in the game, Converse trimmed the Bears lead down to 47-38.
- Back-to-back three-pointers by CJ Jamison gave the Valkyries the momentum they had been looking for as they closed the gap to 51-49 against Lenoir-Rhyne.
- Moments later, Dawkins drilled a three-pointer with 10:23 to play and the Valkyries had their first lead of the second half at 55-52.
- With 4:15 remaining in the game the Valkyries and the Bears were tied at 66 going into the final stretch of play. Back-to-back layups by Malcolm Morgan and a basket by Leo Da Campo gave Converse a 72-66 advantage over Lenoir-Rhyne.
- Pullen and Dawkins helped the Valkyries down the stretch as they consistently hit their free throws to give the Valkyries a double-digit advantage over Lenoir-Rhyne.
- In the second half Converse outscored Lenoir-Rhyne 50-33 and shot an even 70 percent from the field. The Valkyries also shot 55 percent from three-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.
Stat Leaders:
Points – Dawkins (18), Jamison (14), Pullen (14), Buffo (13), Da Campo (12)
Rebounds – Dawkins (11), Da Campo (8)
Assists – Buffo (6), Dawkins (4)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will hit the road next week with a road match against Morris on Wednesday evening in Sumter, S.C.
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