BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team got off to a slow start on Tuesday night as they fell 76-48 to Lees-McRae inside Williams Gymnasium.
With the loss Converse drops to 12-13 overall and 10-7 in Conference Carolinas action. The Valkyries have now lost 15-straight games in the state of North Carolina as they drop to 2-10 in road games this season. Meanwhile, Lees-McRae improves to 10-13 overall and 6-9 in Conference Carolinas play.
First Half Notes:
- Both teams struggled to score in the opening minutes of the game as Bosko Bojovic scored the first point of the game at the free throw line with 18:14 to play in the period.
- Sidney Dollar scored the first jump shot from the field with a mid-range jumper at the 16:51 mark in the half. The Valkyries Jay Mitchell answered at the other end with a three-pointer to give Converse an early 4-2 advantage.
- Over the next few minutes of game time the two teams traded baskets and Jordan Warlick hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 9. However, the Bobcats used a 13-0 run to take the momentum away from the Valkyries.
- Mitchell ended the Valkyrie scoring drought with a three-pointer at the 9:06 mark in the first half.
- Between the 6:50 mark and the 3:39 mark in the period neither team was able to find the basket. Burgess III connected on a pair of free throws to finally end the scoreless drought by the Valkyries offense.
- Going into the halftime break the Valkyries trailed 30-19. Converse shot 14 percent in the opening half, 20 percent from the three-point line and 66 percent from the free throw line.
Second Half Notes:
- Lees-McRae opened the second half on a 7-0 run, following a Converse timeout Trey Smith hit a three-pointer to get the Valkyries on the board.
- The basket by Smith jump started the Valkyries offense as they went on a 10-5 run. Smith made a trio of free throws and the Valkyries were once again knocking on the door down 42-31.
- Moments later the Bobcats had all the momentum as they went on a 10-1 run and made five slam dunks in six possessions. Uzziah Dawkins ended the run with a layup at the 9:01 mark of the second half.
- Over the final 8:23 of game time the Valkyries were outscored 17-7 by Lees-McRae. Landon Harrington scored his first points of the season in the last 10 seconds of the game.
- In the second half Converse was outscored 46-29, the Valkyries shot 37 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point range and 57 percent from the free throw line.
Stat Leaders:
Points – Smith (13), Dawkins (8), Mitchell (8)
Rebounds – Bojovic (6), Boozer (6), Burgess III (6)
Assists – Mitchell (2), Boozer (2), Harrington (2)
Next Up:
Converse will be back at home on Saturday afternoon as they take on Southern Wesleyan inside the Weisiger Center. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m.
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