SPARTANBURG, S.C. – For the second time in three games the Converse University men's basketball team found themselves with an opportunity to win or tie the game with a last second three-pointer. On Saturday afternoon, the Valkyries last second three-pointer came up just short as Belmont Abbey escaped the Weisiger Center with a 70-67 win over Converse.
With the loss the Valkyries snap a two match winning streak and fall to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in Conference Carolinas action. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey improves to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Conference Carolinas play.
Converse won the opening tip-off and
Will Fowler (Duncan, S.C.) found
Jordyn Surratt (Spartanburg, S.C.) for the first three-pointer of the contest. Belmont Abbey answered with a layup on their opening possession to start the scoring for the Crusaders. Belmont Abbey then scored on their next two possessions making it a 6-3 advantage for the Crusaders.
The Valkyries answered with baskets by
Camden Edmonds (King, N.C.) and
Tre Locklear (Boiling Springs, S.C.). Converse went into the first media timeout of the half up 9-8 over the Crusaders. Coming out of the timeout break, both teams struggled on the offensive side of the ball but it was Belmont Abbey who took a 15-13 advantage going into the under 12 media timeout.
Coming out of the timeout break, Belmont Abbey knocked down a three-pointer and held a 18-13 advantage midway through the period. Converse answered with a 7-2 offensive run to tie the match at 20. Over the next five minutes of game time the two teams matched each other shot for shot. Then with two minutes left in the half the Crusaders made a late run and build a 35-28 advantage over the Valkyries.
Converse chipped away at the Crusaders advantage, a Fowler three-pointer at the end of the half closed the gap to 35-33 for the Valkyries. Converse shot 42 percent from the field in the opening half, 26 percent from three-point range and 70 percent from the free throw line.
Coming out of the halftime break,
Chrisean Oree found
Latavian Lawrence for a three-pointer. The timely three-pointer gave Converse a 36-35 edge over the Crusaders. One possession later and Belmont Abbey had the lead once again following a layup. Over the next several minutes of game action the game was either tied or the teams were ahead by a basket or less.
Tied at 45 with 14:14 to play in the game, Converse made began to make their move with a Surratt layup. Oree and Fowler converted on free throw attempts the next two possessions down the court and Converse held a 51-45 lead with 12:24 to play in the game. The Valkyries continued to keep the pressure on the Crusaders as Surratt nailed a three-pointer with 9:10 to play in the half, making it a 56-48 advantage for Converse.
Then it was Belmont Abbey's turn to respond to the Valkyries offensive spurt, it took awhile but 1:17 left to go in the game the Crusaders had dwindled the Valkyries down to a single point at 67-66. With 20 seconds to go in the game, Belmont Abbey scored a late layup in the paint giving the Crusaders a 68-67 edge over Converse. The Crusaders converted on two free throws with seven seconds to go to make it a 70-67 game.
On the final play of the game, Fowler dribbled the ball up the court and heaved a last second three-pointer. A week and a half ago the redshirt nailed a last second three-pointer that gave the Valkyries a last second win and a spot on SportsCenter Top-10. Today, however, Fowler's shot came up just short as time expired. Converse shot 37 percent from the field in the second half, 36 percent from three-point range and 80 percent from the field.
Stats:
Points: Surratt (22), Fowler (16), Oree (13)
Rebounds: Surratt (9), Brownell (7), Lawrence (6)
Assists: Locklear (5), Fowler (3), Oree (2)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will hit the road for a midweek matchup against King on Tuesday afternoon. The match is set to start at 2:00 p.m. in Bristol, Tenn.
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