SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team lost 96-92 in overtime to Lees-McRae on Wednesday evening inside the Weisiger Center.  

With the loss the Valkyries fall to 17-9 overall and 9-7 in Conference Carolinas action. Meanwhile, Lees-McRae improved to a 17-9 overall record and a 10-6 record in Conference Carolinas play.

CJ Jamison and Joel Pullen both finished with 20-points on Wednesday evening. Uzziah Dawkins added 15-points and Jay Mitchell contributed 12-points. Pullen finished the night with a team high eight assists, while Jamison and Mitchell both had a team best five rebounds. Dawkins led the team with five steals on the night.

First Half Notes:

• Lees-McRae won the opening tip-off, but both teams missed their opening shots of the game. Timon Jones got the scoring started with a three-pointer at the 18:44 mark of the opening half.
• Jamison countered with a three-pointer of his own and the match was tied at three. Moments later, Earl Burgess III converted an old fashioned three-point play and the Valkyries were on top for the first time at 6-3.
• The Valkyries went on a 15-4 run over the next few minutes of game time and raced out to a 21-7 advantage.
• Lees-McRae countered and trimmed the Valkyries lead down to single digits. With 10:30 to play in the opening half Jaylin Stewart scored for the Bobcats as the Valkyries clung to a 23-16 lead.
• The Valkyries were able to answer the Bobcats run and countered with a pair of clutch shots of their own.
• With 1:21 to play in the half Converse held what ended up being their largest lead of the match at 47-30.
• Converse went into the locker room with a 47-33 advantage, shooting 66 percent from the field, 61 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.

Second Half Notes:

• At the start of the second half it was all Lees-McRae as they opened the period on a 12-2 run.
• Jay Mitchell ended the Bobcats run with an old fashioned three point play against Lees-McRae.
• At the 13:28 mark of the period the Valkyries held a 52-51 lead over Lees-McRae. Malcolm Morgan jump started a 9-0 Valkyries run as they extended their lead back out to double-digits.
• Converse was able to keep the Bobcats away for most of the period and held an 82-72 lead with just 1:21 to play.
• The Valkyries saw their 10-point lead disappear before their eyes with an 8-0 run by the Bobcats.
• Rodney Smith tied the game with eight seconds to play and sent the game into overtime.
• Converse was outscored 51-37 in the second half, shooting 48 percent from the field, 30 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the free throw line.  

Overtime Notes:

• Lees-McRae opened the overtime period on a 9-0 run as the Valkyries were unable to find their shooting rhythm on the offensive side of the ball.
• Dawkins hit the Valkyries first three-pointer of the period with 1:03 to play in the game. The basket cut the Bobcats lead down to 93-89.
• Moments later, Jay Mitchell hit a fast break three-pointer and the Valkyries were back within a possession down 95-92.
• Converse was unable to get another shot to fall in the overtime period, as the Bobcats scored a free throw to put the game out of reach.
• Converse was outscored 12-8 in the overtime period, shooting 28 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line.

Stat Leaders:
Points – Jamison (20), Pullen (20), Dawkins (15), Mitchell (12)
Rebounds – Jamison (5), Mitchell (5), Pullen (4), Dawkins (4)
Assists – Pullen (8)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will be back at home on Saturday afternoon against UNC Pembroke. Senior Day will be held before the 4:00 p.m. tip-off time in the Weisiger Center.  

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