SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team shot 68 percent from the field and 75 percent from three-point range in the second half on Saturday afternoon, as they ran over Emmanuel 104-76.
With the win the Valkyries improve to 7-0 overall and 1-0 in Conference Carolinas action. This is the first win in series history for Converse over Emmanuel and their first time starting 1-0 in conference play since the 2021-22 season. Emmanuel drops to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in Conference Carolinas play this season.
Uzziah Dawkins led the team with 26-points on the evening,
Edoardo Buffo became the first Valkyries men's basketball player to have a perfect shooting night in program history. The Italian went 7-7 from the field, 6-6 from three-point range and 1-1 from the free throw line. Buffo finished second on the team with 21-points.
C.J. Jamison finished third on the team with 18-points, while
Joel Pullen contributed 15-points off the bench and
Earl Burgess III added 10-points in the win. The Valkyries defense held KJ Jones II to just 12-points for Emmanuel, while Chris Dees led the team with 23-points.
First Half Notes:
- Emmanuel won the opening tip and Jones found Dees for a three pointer to open the scoring for either side. Moments later, Malcolm Morgan scored the first points of the game for the Valkyries at the free throw line.
- Leo Da Campo scored the first field goal of the game for the Converse with a layup at the 18:30 mark of the first half. Jones missed a shot at the other end of the court and Morgan found Buffo for a three-pointer at the other end of the court.
- Holding a 7-3 lead with 17:43 to play in the half, the Valkyries saw their lead dwindle and surpassed following an 8-0 Emmanuel run. Jamison found Buffo for his second three-pointer of the game to end the Lions run with 15:26 to play.
- Coming out of the first media timeout, Buffo connected on his third three-pointer of the half and the Valkyries were back on top 13-11. Following a defensive stop at the other end o the court, Dawkins scored to give the Valkyries a four point advantage with 13:19 to play in the period.
- Over the next three minutes of game time the two teams went back-and-forth and matched each other shot for shot. At the 10:00 minute mark in the half, Buffo knocked down his fourth three-pointer of the period and Converse was back on top with a 21-17 lead.
- At the 4:09 mark of the first half, Trell Washington made a go-ahead layup to give Emmanuel a 31-29 lead. This was the last time the Lions held a lead during game.
- Dawkins tied the game at the other end of the court with a layup and the Valkyries never looked back as they went into the halftime break up 39-34.
- Converse shot 50 percent in the first half, 36 percent from three-point range and 87 percent from the free throw line.
Second Half Notes:
- Coming out of the halftime intermission, Dawkins found Burgess III for a three-pointer and the Valkyries extended their lead to 42-34.
- Former Valkyrie Nate Gordon scored to keep the Lions within two possessions on the other end of floor. Moments later, Burgess III and Jamison scored on back-to-back possessions and the Lions were forced to call a timeout down 50-40.
- After the media timeout Jamison and Buffo teamed up to hit three consecutive three-pointers and the Valkyries led 59-44 with 14:15 to play in the game.
- Over the next four minutes of game time the Valkyries offense continued to click. A second Burgess III three-pointer gave Converse a 76-56 advantage with 10:02 to play in the match.
- Emmanuel was never able to get the deficit back under 20 points against the Valkyries. With 3:10 to play in the game, Jamison hit a three-pointer to give Converse a 101-71 lead.
- Both teams emptied the benches in the final moments of the game as Converse crossed the 100-point mark for the second time this season.
- The Valkyries scored 65-points in the second half, shot 68 percent from the field, 75 percent form three-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line.
Stat Leaders:
Points – Dawkins (26), Buffo (21), Jamison (18), Pullen (15), Burgess III (10)
Rebounds – Da Campo (7), Dawkins (4), Jamison (4), Pullen (4)
Assists – Jamison (6), Dawkins (5), Buffo (4)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will be back at home next Saturday afternoon against King University. The game is slated for a 4:00 p.m. start time inside the Weisiger Center.
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