SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team completed the season sweep of North Greenville with a 74-63 win on Tuesday evening inside the Weisiger Center.
 
With the win Converse improves to 9-12 overall and 8-7 in Conference Carolinas action. The Valkyries are now in second place in the Northwest Division standings. North Greenville falls to 9-16 overall and 5-11 in Conference Carolinas play.
 
Senior guard Isac Ahnstrand finished with a career high 29-points against the Trailblazers. Ahnstrand's 29-points are tied for the third most in program history and his five three pointers are tied for fifth most in a single game in program history. Ben Jones contributed 11-points and Jay Mitchell added 10-points in the win.
 
Converse won the opening tip-off and Caleb Reams found Ahnstrand for the first three pointer of the game. North Greenville answered with a Michael Wilson Jr., three-pointer at the other end to tie the game at three. The Trailblazers scored on their next possession and took a 5-3 lead over the Valkyries, it was short lived however as Converse tied the game back up at eight off another Ahnstrand three-pointer.

With 15:36 to play Ben Jones and Jay Mitchell hit back-to-back baskets and Converse was back on top 13-8. Two more three-pointers by Jones followed and with 14:22 to play in the half, Converse held a 19-8 advantage over North Greenville. Over the next 10 minutes of game time the Valkyries managed to maintain a double-digit lead. With 4:11 to play in the period, North Greenville had dwindled the Valkyries lead down to six points following a Wilson Jr., made layup.
 
With 3:09 to play in the half, Joel Pullen made a fast break layup and ignited an 11-0 Valkyrie run over the next two minutes of action. North Greenville called a timeout trailing 41-23, this ended up being the halftime score as neither team scored the rest of the period. Converse shot 46 percent from the field, 47 percent from three-point range and 100 percent from the free throw line in the first half.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, Reams and Ahnstrand scored the first four points of the period for either side and the Valkyries held their first 20-point lead of the match. For the majority of the second half the Valkyries maintained their large lead over the Trailblazers. With 8:19 to play in the game, Converse held a 56-14 edge over North Greenville. Ahnstrand then went on a personal 9-0 run to put the game away for the Valkyries as they held a 67-42 advantage over the Trailblazers.
 
North Greenville cut into the Valkyries lead late after the game was already decided. North Greenville outscored Converse 40-33 in the second half, Converse shot 45 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line.    
 
Stat Leaders:
Points – Ahnstrand (29), Jones (11), Mitchell (10)
Rebounds – Burgess III (7), Da Campo (5)
Assists – Pullen (4), Da Campo (3), Jones (3)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will hit the road this weekend and travel to both Barton and Chowan.   
 
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