BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Converse University men's basketball team dropped an 82-77 decision in overtime to King on Tuesday evening, inside the Student Center Complex on the campus of King University.

With the loss, the Valkyries drop to 16-8 overall and 8-6 in Conference Carolinas action. Converse is now 1-2 all-time in overtime games, with their lone win coming during the 2021-22 season. Meanwhile, King improves to 9-14 overall and 5-9 in Conference Carolinas play.

C.J. Jamison finished with 28-points in the contest, Uzziah Dawkins contributed 18-points and a team high 7-rebounds and Ben Jones scored a career high 10-points off the bench for the Valkyries.

First Half Notes:

• Dawkins scored the first points of the game for either side with a layup at the 19:24 mark of the opening half. Jordan Akal hit a three-pointer for King in their next possession down the court to give the Tornado the early advantage.
• Over the next several minutes of game time both teams had a pair of offensive runs, but it was King who held a 10-8 advantage at the first media timeout break.
• At the 8:55 mark in the opening half, Earl Burgess III made a mid-range jumper and started a 6-0 run for the Valkyries offense. Going into the third media timeout break, the Valkyries held a 20-15 lead over King.
• For the remainder of the half the two teams battled it out down the stretch and matched each other shot for shot. Converse went into the halftime break up 35-32 over King.
• Converse shot 46 percent in the opening half, 11 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line.  

Second Half Notes:

• Malcolm Morgan scored the first points of the second half for either team with a three-pointer at the 19:38 mark of the second period.
• Over the next several minutes of game time, the Valkyries were unable to put the game out of reach of the Tornado. King continued to hang around and was always within single-digits of Converse.
• The majority of the half saw a back-and-forth action between the two teams. With 28 seconds to go in the game, Morgan made a free throw and the Valkyries were up 70-65.
• Nine seconds later, Jamison recorded a free throw and the Valkyries held a 71-65 advantage against King.
• Akal hit a three-pointer with 11 seconds to go in the contest to pull within a trio of points against Converse.
• Following a turnover by the Valkyries, King called timeout with 10 seconds to play in the game. Seth Cullen tied the game at 71 with just three seconds left in regulation and sent the game to overtime.
• Converse was outscored 39-36 in the second half, shooting 46 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line.

Overtime Notes:

• In overtime, King opened the five minute period on a 4-0 run before Jamison hit a three-pointer for Converse.
• With 1:40 to play in the game, Jamison made a free throw and the Valkyries trailed 77-75. Unfortunately, this was the closest the Valkyries would come to King during the overtime period.
• King won the overtime period by a score of 11-6. Converse shot 28 percent from the field, 16 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line.

Stat Leaders:
Points – Jamison (28), Dawkins (18), Jones (10)
Rebounds – Dawkins (7), Jamison (6)
Assists – Dawkins (4), Morgan (3)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will stay on the road this weekend and travel to Southern Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for a 4:00 p.m. start in Central, S.C.       

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