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Joel Pullen Introduced during the starting lineup of a basketball game
65
Winner Converse Conv 16-7,8-5 Conference Carolinas
61
North Greenville NG 8-13,3-11 Conference Carolinas
Winner
Converse Conv
16-7,8-5 Conference Carolinas
65
Final
61
North Greenville NG
8-13,3-11 Conference Carolinas
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Converse Conv 32 33 65
North Greenville NG 34 27 61

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Pullen Propels Valkyries Past Crusaders in the Second Half

TIGERVILLE, S.C. – Converse University junior guard Joel Pullen scored a Converse career high 18-points on Saturday afternoon, as the Valkyries stormed from behind to take a 65-61 win over North Greenville.   

With the win the Valkyries improve to 16-7 overall and 8-5 in Conference Carolinas action. Converse has now won four straight games dating back to a January 31st win over Belmont Abbey. The Valkyries win today also set a new program record for wins in a season. Meanwhile, North Greenville falls to 8-13 overall and 3-11 in Conference Carolinas play.  

Pullen led the team with an 18-point outing, hauling in eight rebounds, contributing three assists and coming away with a trio of steals against the Crusaders. C.J. Jamison finished second on the team with 13-points and Malcolm Morgan rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11-points against North Greenville. Earl Burgess III finished with a team high nine rebounds against the Crusaders.

First Half Notes:
  • North Greenville won the opening tip-off but failed to score on their first shot attempt of the game. Jacob Brown scored the first point of the game at the free throw line for the Crusaders.
  • Converse went down the court on their opening possession and Jamison found Pullen for the opening three-pointer of the game. Pullen got in a rhythm early as he knocked down three consecutive three-pointers for the Valkyries offense.
  • Leading 9-3, the Crusaders cut into the Valkyries lead with a Max Topham layup attempt. Morgan answered at the other end of the floor as the Valkyries went up by six points once again.
  • A 5-0 spurt by the Crusaders had the Valkyries trimmed down to 11-10, but Morgan answered with a three-pointer and the Valkyries once again held a four point advantage.
  • With 12:02 to play in the half, Cadarrius Sowell gave North Greenville their second lead of the game at 17-16. Moments later, Caleb Williams capped off a 10-0 run with a mid-range jumper for the Crusaders and North Greenville held a 22-16 advantage.
  • Jamison and Ben Jones then helped bring back the Valkyries offense as they made back-to-back baskets. With 7:35 to play Jamison nailed a jumper in the pain and Converse trailed 24-23.
  • Despite the Valkyries best efforts, they were unable to overtake the Crusaders lead in the opening half. North Greenville went into the halftime break up 34-32.
  • Converse shot 43 percent from the field in the opening half, 33 percent from the three-point line and 50 percent from the free throw line.
Second Half Notes:
  • In the second half, neither team scored in the opening two and a half minutes of game time. Then Pullen tied the game at 34 with 17:35 to play in the match. On the Valkyries next possession down the court Burgess III gave the Valkyries their first lead since the first half.
  • The Crusaders countered with an 8-2 run and with 14:59 to play held a 42-41 advantage over Converse.
  • Over the next two minutes of game time the Crusaders built a six-point advantage over Converse.
  • Jay Mitchell ended the Valkyries scoring drought with a Dunk at the 12:23 juncture of the game. A well timed Uzziah Dawkins three-pointer had the Valkyries back in the game down 48-47.
  • The Valkyries once again saw their hard work on the offensive end vanish as the Crusaders went on a 9-1 run. North Greenville held their largest lead of the game at 57-48 with just 7:46 remaining in the game.
  • Converse began to make their move in the closing moments of the second half. A 9-0 run capped off by a Dawkins three-pointer, tied the game at 57 with 5:04 to play in the game.
  • With 2:03 to play in the game, Jamison the former North Greenville star knocked down a three-pointer and gave Converse the lead for good. In fact, Jamison scored the final eight points for the Valkyries offense.
  • North Greenville kept it close, however, as Zak Perdew converted on a pair of free throws to pull within two points at 63-61. Jamison stepped to the line and knocked down both free throws to give Converse a four-point advantage.
  • North Greenville then attempted two different last second three-point plays, but neither went in as the Valkyries came away with the win.
  • Converse shot 40 percent from the field in the second half, 33 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the free throw line.  
Stat Leaders:
Points – Pullen (18), Jamison (13), Morgan (11)
Rebounds – Burgess III (9), Pullen (8), Morgan (4)
Assists – Jamison (4), Pullen (3)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will stay on the road this week and travel to King on Tuesday evening.      

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