SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse men's basketball team defeated the Central International College Cardinals by a final score of 105-61 Tuesday night in an exhibition at the Weisiger Center.

As an exhibition, the Valkyries remain 1-1 on the season.

Redshirt freshman Will Fowler and junior Tre Locklear led all players in scoring with 16 points each.
 
How It Happened
Converse won the opening tipoff and converted the first basket of the game with a tip-in from senior Jordyn Surratt. The Valkyries raced out to a six-point lead just three minutes into the game, capped off with a three-pointer from Fowler at the 17 minute mark.

A 16-4 run to follow put Converse up 23-8 with just over 14 minutes remaining in the half. With 7:21 to play in the half, redshirt senior Latavian Lawrence nailed a jumper to cap off another big Converse run with just four Cardinal points.

The Cardinals finished the half stronger, with Converse holding just a 17-16 advantage over the final six and a half minutes. Seven different Valkyries scored during that stretch. Converse took a 55-28 lead into halftime.

Central International cut the lead to 20, 61-41, over the first four and a half minutes of the second half. The Valkyries followed that by refinding their rhythm and putting up 16 points over the next four and half minutes while holding CIC to just four. Lawrence led the way during that stretch with five points, but again Converse proved to be an unselfish squad, distributing the scoring amongst six players.

With few subs, the Cardinals defense began to slack in the home stretch of the game, allowing Converse to add 10 points to the already-large lead and secure the 105-61 exhibition win.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Fowler and junior Tre Locklear led the Valkyries in scoring with 16 points each.
• Five other Valkyries scored in double-digits as well: Lawrence (12), Surratt (11), redshirt sophomore Tre Locklear (11), freshman Giannis Donakis (10) and freshman Ethan Brownell (10).
• Donakis led Converse in rebounding with 13 boards and blocks with two.
• The Valkyries secured 52 rebounds while holding the Cardinals to 21.
• Converse led for 98.8 percent of the game and never trailed.
• Locklear dished out a team-high seven assists.
• The Valkyries converted 14 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points.
• Converse shot 41-75, 54.7 percent, from the field and 10-31, 32.3 percent from beyond the arc.
• Thirty-two of the Valkyries points came off of fast breaks.

Up Next
The Valkyries return to regular season action on Saturday, Nov. 22 as they tip-off Conference Carolinas action against Emmanuel University in Franklin Springs, Georgia. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 P.M.

Follow Converse
https://www.facebook.com/ConverseValkyries
Twitter: @Valkyrie_Sports
Instagram: @ConverseValkyries & @Valkyries_MBB