BELMONT, N.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team completed the season sweep of Belmont Abbey for the first time in program history on Thursday afternoon, when they defeated the Crusaders 73-64.
 
With the win the Valkyries snap a two game losing streak and improve to 10-14 overall and 9-9 in Conference Carolinas action. The win on Thursday was also the Valkyries first ever win inside the Wheeler Center. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey falls to 1-19 overall this season and 0-17 in Conference Carolinas play.
 
Joel Pullen led the Valkyries in scoring with 19-points off the bench, Isac Ahnstrand finished second on the team with 17-points, and Jay Mitchell finished third on the team with 10-points. Ahnstrand and Caleb Reams both led the team with five rebounds each in the win, while Reams and Pullen led the team with four assists each.  
 
First Half Notes:

• Converse won the opening tip-off against the Crusaders and Reams found Ahnstrand for the first three-pointer of the game.
• The Valkyries opened up the game on a 7-3 run and went into the first media timeout up 7-6 against the Crusaders.
• Over the next four minutes of action not a lot of scoring was done by either team, as Belmont Abbey held a 13-12 advantage going into the second media timeout of the half.
• With 10:37 to play in the opening half, Converse trailed 15-12 against the Crusaders. Edoardo Buffo and Jay Mitchell hit back-to-back jumpers and the Valkyries regained the lead with 9:36 to go in the period.
• Coming out of the under eight media timeout, Ahnstrand nailed a three pointer and the Valkyries held a 21-18 advantage. Two possessions later, Mitchell knocked down a three-pointer and the Valkyries were up 24-18 with 6:00 to play in the half.
• Converse ended the half on a 15-7 run and took a 39-14 lead going into the locker room. The Valkyries shot 53 percent from the field, 58 percent from three-point range, and 50 percent from the free throw line.  

 
Second Half Notes:

• Coming out of the halftime break, Belmont Abbey scored on their first possession of the second half.
• Earl Burgess III scored the first points of the second half for Converse with 18:13 to play in the contest.
• With 14:51 to play in the game, Belmont Abbey's Khamani Wertz made three straight free throws and the Crusaders were once again within striking distance of the Valkyries.
• Burgess III scored on the other end of the court and Converse once again held a double-digit lead at 46-36. Two possessions later Mitchell recorded a fast break dunk and the Valkyries had the momentum once again.
• Over the next several minutes of game time the two teams went back-and-forth down the court as they matched one another shot for shot. Slowly the Crusaders chipped away at the Valkyries double-digit lead and eventually got it back within single digits.
• With 4:02 to play in the half, Wertz hit two more free throws and the Valkyries clung to a 60-55 advantage over Belmont Abbey.
• Both Ahnstrand and Pullen made key baskets over the next few minutes of game time as the Converse offense used a 7-2 run to pull ahead 67-57 over Belmont Abbey.
• Despite the double-digit advantage the Valkyries were unable to put the Crusaders pesky offense away. With 38 seconds to go in the contest, Belmont Abbey had shrunk the Valkyries lead down to three points at 67-64.
• Pullen scored the last six points of the contest as the Valkyries picked up the 73-64 win over Belmont Abbey.
• Converse was outscored 39-34 in the second half, while shooting 44 percent from the field, 10 percent from three-point range, and 100 percent from the free throw line.

 
Stats:
Points: Pullen (19), Ahnstrand (17), Mitchell (10)
Rebounds: Ahnstrand (5), Reams (5)
Assists: Reams (4), Pullen (4)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will be back at home this Saturday afternoon against Erskine. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m., inside the Weisiger Center.     
 
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