SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team bounced back on Wednesday night with an 84-54 win over Southern Wesleyan.
With the win the Valkyries improve to 10-4 overall and 4-2 in Conference Carolinas action. This is also the third straight win in the series for the Valkyries against the Warriors and their largest ever victory as well. Southern Wesleyan drops to 2-15 overall on the season and 1-5 in Conference Carolinas play.
Uzziah Dawkins (Spartanburg, S.C.) led the Valkyries with 29-points,
Earl Burgess III (Spartanburg, S.C.) contributed 16-points and
Jay Mitchell (Clemmons, N.C.). Burgess III and Jamison tied for the team lead with six rebounds each.
Joel Pullen (New Haven, Conn.) had a team high nine assists and Jamison finished second on the team with four assists.
Malcolm Morgan (Concord, N.C.) led the team defensively with a pair of blocked shots against the Warriors.
First Half Notes:
- Southern Wesleyan won the opening tip-off and Aaron Tims scored on the Warriors first possession. Following a pair of missed shots by both teams, the Warriors went up 4-0 following a Griffin Effenberger.
- With 16:23 to play in the half, C.J. Jamison found Dawkins for a three-pointer and the Valkyries first points of the game.
- Coming out of the first media timeout the Valkyries offense started to click and went on a 6-5 run to tie the game at 9-9.
- Following the second media timeout, Jay Mitchell hit a three-pointer to give Converse a 12-9 advantage over the Warriors. Mitchell and Burgess then propelled the offense over the next few possessions as Converse took a 22-14 lead with just under eight minutes to play in the half.
- Moments later Dawkins scored on a jumper in the paint, giving the Valkyries a 26-16 advantage with 6:25 to play in the period.
- With just under three and a half minutes to play in the opening period, Dawkins and Jamison combined to hit three-consecutive three-pointers, giving Converse a 14-point advantage.
- Burgess III scored the final points of half and Converse went into the intermission break up 37-21.
- Converse shot 48 percent from the field in the opening half, 41 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Second Half Notes:
- Coming out of the halftime break the two teams missed numerous shots before Morgan scored the first points of the period for either team.
- Moments later, Dawkins and Burgess combined to score six consecutive points and the Valkyries had their largest lead of the game at 23 points.
- Following a media timeout, the Warriors chipped away at the Valkyries lead and each time the Valkyries responded. Converse held a 56-36 lead with 11:04 to play in the game.
- The Valkyries continued to dominate on the offensive side of the ball as they used an 18-4 run to put the game completely out of reach of the Warriors.
- AJ Cook and Chuks Uzoka scored the final points of the match for Converse as they outscored Southern Wesleyan 47-33 in the second half on Wednesday evening.
- Converse shot 54 percent in the second half, 53 percent from three-point range and 57 percent from the free throw line.
Stat Leaders:
Points – Dawkins (29), Burgess III (16), Mitchell (13)
Rebounds – Burgess III (6), Jamison (6)
Assists – Pullen (9), Jamison (4)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will be back in action this weekend against Chowan. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m. inside the Weisiger Center.
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