The Matchup
Friday:
Converse (0-0) vs Mars Hill (0-0)
Location: Wingate, N.C.
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Live Video
Live Stats
 
 
Saturday:
Converse (0-0) at Wingate (0-0)
Location: Wingate, 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 1-1 all-time against Mars Hill, with each team holding serve on the others home court. Last Season, Mars Hill defeated Converse 76-67, Friday's meeting will be the first neutral site contest between the two squads.  
 
Converse is 0-2 all-time against Wingate, last season the Bulldogs defeated Converse 77-71 at Mars Hill. This will be the Valkyries first trip to Cuddy Arena when they battle both the Lions and bulldogs this weekend.
 
Converse Notes:

• Converse is coming off a historic second season, in which the Valkyries finished with a 15-15 overall record and a 12-8 Conference Carolinas record.
• Head Coach Nick Pasqua enters his second season at the helm of the Valkyries men's basketball program. In his first season, Pasqua led the Valkyries to their first Conference Carolinas Tournament appearance and first postseason win against Francis Marion. The Valkyries made it all the way to the quarterfinals round before falling to Barton in overtime.
• Uzziah Dawkins was named a player to watch this season by the Conference Carolinas office, following a third team all-conference performance a season ago. Dawkins was one of just two players to play and start in all 30 games last and set a new program record for points in a season (439). Dawkins also set the single season school records for field goals made (157), attempted (309) and assists (117). Dawkins also led the team in steals (29) and blocks (17).
• Also returning for the Valkyries this season is Earl Burgess III, Jay Mitchell and Sigurd Lorange. All three are original members of the Valkyries men's basketball team and provide playing experience in Pasqua's system.  
• In the offseason the Valkyries added 16 new players including, Malcolm Morgan, Tyler McKinney, Isac Ahnstrand, CJ Jamison, Kervens Yacinthe, AJ Cook, Joel Pullen, Edo Buffo, Ben Jones, Leo Da Campo, Chuks Uzoka, Jaylen Golston, Ryan Hite, Cam Jenkins, Zaharee Maddox and Caleb Reams.  

 
Mars Hill Notes:

• Mars Hill went 9-19 overall last season and 4-14 in South Atlantic Conference play. The Lions went 2-0 in the Crossover Challenge last season, with wins over Converse and Belmont Abbey.
• Last season, the Lions averaged 68.9 points per game, shot 40.7 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from beyond the arch and 74.2 percent from the free throw line. The Lions also hauled in 34.0 rebounds per game and 11.7 assists per game.
• Kory Davis returns as the leading scorer for the Lions, as a freshman last season Davis averaged 15.7 points per game and shot 39.2 percent from the field. Rajuan Conner led the team with 6.8 rebounds last season and blocks per game with 1.0.

 
Wingate Notes:

• The Bulldogs went 15-13 last season and 10-8 in South Atlantic Conference action. Wingate went 2-0 in the Tip-off challenge with wins over Belmont Abbey and Converse.
• Wingate was 6-6 at home last season inside Cuddy Arena but they were 7-6 away from campus.
• The Bulldogs averaged 82.0 points per game and shot 47 percent from the field, 36 percent from three-point range and 76 percent from the free throw line.
• Wingate averaged 33.7 rebounds per game last season, 15.2 assists per game, 6.6 steals per game and 1.9 blocks per game.
• Jarren Cottingham led the team last season in total points (402) and scoring average (14.4). While Destin Clark finished second on the team with 14.0 points per game.  
• Clark led the team with 190 total rebounds, Donell Nixon II finished with a team best 102 assists and Josh Massey had a team high 20 blocked shots.

 
 
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