TIGERVILLE, S.C. – Converse University redshirt freshman guard Will Fowler (Duncan, S.C.) hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired to stun North Greenville on their home court as the Valkyries picked up a 72-70 win on Wednesday evening.
 
With the win Converse improves to 2-4 overall on the season and 1-1 in Conference Carolinas play. The Valkyries are now 1-0 in Conference Carolinas Northwest Division action. Meanwhile, North Greenville falls to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in both Conference Carolinas play and Northwest Division play.
 
North Greenville won the opening tip-off but failed to score on their opening possession. Camden Edmonds hauled in the defensive rebound, while Tre Locklear scored the first points of the contest. Over the next few possessions, Edmonds and Latavian Lawrence hit back-to-back three-pointers to put Converse up 8-5. The Valkyries continued to score at will in the opening moments of the contest as Fowler scored his first layup of the contest with 16:41 to play in the half.
 
Following the first media timeout of the half, Fowler scored again off a Jordyn Surratt assist. On the Valkyries next possession down the court, Surratt hit a three-pointer to Converse up 15-11. A few moments later the Valkyries went into a dry spell offensively and the Trailblazers took advantage. North Greenville used a 12-0 run to take a 25-17 lead over the Valkyries with 8:37 to play in the opening half.
 
With 8:15 to play in the half, Locklear found Giannis Donakis for a layup to end the scoring drought for the Valkyries offense. Converse scored on their next two possessions down the court and trailed 25-23 with 7:26 to play in the first period. North Greenville once again built an eight point advantage over the Valkyries, forcing Converse to rally once again late in the first half.
 
The Valkyries offense once again came alive and with 2:28 to go in the period Edmonds hit back-to-back three-pointers and Converse led 35-33. Over the last two minutes of game action the two teams went back-and-forth, North Greenville went into the halftime break with a 40-37 advantage over Converse.
 
The Trailblazers scored the first six points of the second half, before Surratt scored the first points for Converse with 16:45 to play in the second period. The Valkyries kept it within a single digit deficit and then made their move with 15:35 to play in the game. Converse used a 15-0 run over the next four minutes of game time to take a 56-50 lead over North Greenville.
 
The Valkyries held off numerous runs by the Trailblazers throughout the second half but with 1:33 to play in the game North Greenville tied the game at 68. Surratt made a free throw with 56 seconds to play to give the Valkyries a one point advantage. North Greenville made a layup, making it 70-69 in favor of the Trailblazers.
With 44 seconds left in the contest Fowler missed a layup, Lawrence grabbed the offensive rebound and passed out the Chrisean Oree. Oree missed the three-pointer but the Trailblazers turned the ball over on the defensive rebounds. Following a 30 second timeout Lawrence went up for the game-winning layup but was blocked at the rim by the Trailblazers.
 
Prince Jones-Bynum missed the front end of a one-and-one, Surratt grabbed the rebound and past it to Fowler. The redshirt freshman raced up the court and nailed the game-winning three-pointer as time expired to give the Valkyries their first conference win of the season.
 
Converse shot 48 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line in the first half. In the second half, Converse shot 42 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 72 percent from the free throw line.
 
Stats:
Points: Fowler (22), Surratt (19), Edmonds (15)
Rebounds: Surratt (9), Edmonds (6), Fowler (5)
Assists: Locklear (4), Fowler (3), Oree (3)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will be back at home this coming Saturday as they face Southern Wesleyan. Tip-off is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start inside the Weisiger Center.        
 
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