SALISBURY, N.C. – The Converse University men's basketball picked up an 88-77 victory over Livingstone on Wednesday afternoon inside the William Trent Gymnasium.
 
Converse with the win is now 6-5 overall on the season and finished the month of December with a 4-1 record. Today's win against Livingstone was the Valkyries first ever in Salisbury and it ended two game losing streak to the Blue Bears dating back to the 2023-2024 season. The Valkyries only other win the series came on December 12, 2022 inside the Weisiger Center. Livingstone, drops to 4-8 overall on the season.
 
The Valkyries won the opening tip-off but turned the ball over on their opening possession against Livingstone. The Blue Bears got on the board first with a layup by John Baldwin at the 19:16 mark of the opening period. On the Valkyries next possession down the court Jordyn Surratt (Spartanburg, S.C.) found Camden Edmonds (King, N.C.) for a three-pointer to put the Valkyries out in front.
 
A few possessions later, Will Fowler (Duncan, S.C.) found Edmonds for his second three pointer of the period and the Valkyries led 6-4 against the Blue Bears. The Valkyries continued to put pressure on Livingstone in the early moments of the game, Ethan Brownell (Celina, Texas) made back-to-back layups and the Valkyries reached double-digits first up 10-6 with 16:36 to play in the first half.  
 
Coming out of the first media timeout the two teams were tied at 10 following a quick offensive spurt by Livingstone. Following the timeout, Brownell stayed active on the defensive side of the ball with a steal. Tre Locklear (Boiling Springs, S.C.) found Chrisean Oree (Columbia, S.C.) for his first three-pointer of the game. On the Valkyries next possession down the court it was Oree who connected with Surratt for a three-pointer.
 
The Valkyries were connecting early and often from beyond the three-point arch in the opening half, shooting around 60 percent in the first eight minutes of the contest. With 12:34 to play in the period, Oree connected on his third three-pointer of the half and Converse held a 22-16 lead over Livingstone.
 
Converse continued to score against the Blue Bears offense as Jonathon Pickering (Savannah, Ga.) had personal 5-0 spurt with 9:33 to play in the period. Following a media timeout, Fowler, Surratt and Edmonds went on an 8-0 run to put the Valkyries up 38-22 with 6:30 to play in the period.
 
Fowler made a three pointer with 5:23 to play in the half to put the Valkyries up 41-24, the Valkyries did not score the remainder of the period. Converse went into the halftime break up 41-33 against Livingstone. Converse shot 48 percent from the field in the opening half, 55 percent from three-point range and 50 percent from the free throw line.
 
Just like the first half, Livingstone scored the first points of the period but once again Edmonds got the Valkyries on the board with a three-pointer. In fact, both Edmonds and Fowler scored on the Valkyries first three possessions of the period as they maintained a 50-40 advantage over the Blue Bears.
 
Livingstone then went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 50 with 15:16 to play in the half. A quick timeout by the Valkyries proved to be effective as Surratt scored out of the break and the Valkyries once again had the lead. The basket proved to be pivotal moment in the contest as the Valkyries went on a 12-2 run, which was once again capped off by an Edmonds three-pointer.
 
Over the final ten minutes of game time the Valkyries never let Livingstone get within 10-points. On two different occasions the Valkyries held a 17-points advantages over the Blue Bears. Converse outscored Livingstone 47-44 in the second half, the Valkyries shot 53 percent from the field, 55 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the free throw line. It was the third time this season the Valkyries had five players end the game in double-figures.   
 
Stats:
Points: Edmonds (23), Fowler (18), Surratt (16), Pickering (13), Oree (12)
Rebounds: Surratt (13), Edmonds (5)
Assists: Fowler (7), Locklear (6), Surratt (4)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will stay on the road with a trip to Ferrum on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is currently slated for a 4:00 p.m. start time in Ferrum, Va.            
 
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