SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team came away with a 76-71 win over Southern Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon inside the Weisiger Center.
 
With the win the Valkyries improve to 13-13 overall and 11-7 in Conference Carolinas action. Converse is now 11-2 at home this season and they complete the season sweep of Southern Wesleyan for the first time in program history. Meanwhile, the Warriors drop to 4-21 overall and 4-13 in Conference Carolinas play this season.
 
Uzziah Dawkins once again led the Valkyries in points with 22-point effort. Dawkins also led the team in assists with four on the night and finished second on the team with eight rebounds. Bosko Bojovic once again stuffed the stat sheet with a 19-point, 11-rebound game against the Warriors. Bojovic finished second on the team with three assists on the night. NyGel Boozer rounded out the Valkyries top-three scorers with an eight-point effort in the contest.   
 
1^st Half Notes:

• Despite winning the opening tip-off, it was Southern Wesleyan's Jamal Edmonson who scored the first points of the contest. Bojovic quickly tied the game up with his first points of the game. Dawkins gave the Valkyries their first lead of the match with a three-pointer at the 17:43 mark.
• The Valkyries kept the pressure on with baskets by Earl Burgess III and Boozer to extend the Converse lead to 10-7 going into the first media timeout.
• Following the timeout break the Valkyries used a 9-2 run to storm out to a 19-9 advantage over the Warriors.
• Despite the early momentum and the 10-point lead the Warriors continued to hang around and with 4:21 to play in the half the Valkyries had let their lead slip to 27-24.
• A Converse timeout proved to be pivotal as the Valkyries used an 11-2 run to build their lead back to double-digits.
• Going into the halftime intermission Converse held a 39-31 lead over Southern Wesleyan. Converse shot 48 percent in the opening half, 37 percent from three-point range and 60 percent from the free throw line.

 
2^nd Half Notes:

• In the second half Southern Wesleyan came out of the gates hot as they scored the first two baskets of the period. Bojovic finally scored the Valkyries first field goal of the half at the 17:03 mark.
• Throughout the opening moments of the second half it was a back-and-forth fight between the two teams. With 14:07 to play, Dawkins hit a three-pointer to give the Valkyries a 51-44 advantage.
• Over the next two minutes of game time the Warriors used an 8-1 run to tie the game at 52. Moments later the Valkyries once again held the momentum as Elijah Pitts hit an open three-pointer to give the Valkyries a 59-54 edge over the Warriors.
• Despite the momentum for Converse neither the Valkyries nor the Warriors could make a shot for over three minutes of game time.
• Edmonson ended the scoring drought for Southern Wesleyan with a free throw at the 7:07 mark of the second half. Two possessions later and Bojovic ended the Valkyries scoreless skid with 6:21 to play.
• The game remained a two-possession outing throughout the remainder of the game. Earl Burgess III blocked the shot by Bryson Felder and Jay Mitchell made the fast break slam dunk to put an exclamation mark on the win for Converse.
• Converse was outscored in the second half 40-37 by Southern Wesleyan. The Valkyries shot 48 percent from the field, 25 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from the free throw line.  

 
Stat Leaders:
Points – Dawkins (22), Bojovic (19), Boozer (8)
Rebounds – Bojovic (11), Dawkins (8)
Assists – Dawkins (4)
 
Next Up:
The Valkyries will travel to the Volunteer State to take on King University on Wednesday night. Tip-off is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.  
 
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