CENTRAL, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team defeated Southern Wesleyan 98-75 on Wednesday evening.
 
With the win, Converse snaps a two match losing streak and improves to 8-11 overall and 7-6 in Conference Carolinas action. Southern Wesleyan drops to 8-14 overall and 4-10 in Conference Carolinas play.
 
Converse won the opening tip and Leo Da Campo scored the first basket of the game for either side. Southern Wesleyan then scored on the next three possessions to start the game on a 6-2 run against the Valkyries. Converse quickly regained the lead after Da Campo made a layup and Ben Jones knocked down a three pointer.
 
Trailing 14-12 with 14:11 to play in the half, Isac Ahnstrand and Joel Pullen hit back-to-back three pointers and the Valkyries offense never looked back. Converse quickly increased their lead to 27-14 following a 13-2 run. Converse continued to maintain their double-digit advantage throughout the opening half and even held a 40-25 advantage with 3:41 to play in the half. With just 58 seconds to play in the half, Converse held their largest lead of the period at 49-29.
 
Converse went into the halftime break up 51-32 over Southern Wesleyan. The Valkyries shot 53 percent from the field, 61 percent from the field and 33 percent from the free throw line. Ahnstrand led the team with 16-points in the opening half of action.
 
Coming out of the halftime break, Converse scored the first five points of half with made baskets by Jay Mitchell and Caleb Reams. The two teams traded baskets for the next few possessions as the Valkyries continued to maintain their lead over Southern Wesleyan. With 6:52 to play in the game, Kyle Monk connected on a three-pointer and the Valkyries held their largest lead of the game at 84-54.
 
For the remainder of the game the Valkyries lead never dwindled below 20-points against the Warriors. Converse outscored Southern Wesleyan 47-43 in the second half, shooting 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range. Ahnstrand led the team with a 21-point performance, while Monk finished second on the team with 20-points. Jay Mitchell posted a double-double with a 13-point and 10-rebound performance, while Joel Pullen scored 11-points for the Valkyries to round out the teams double digit scorers.  
 
 
Stat Leaders:
Points – Ahnstrand (21), Monk (20), Mitchell (13), Pullen (11)
Rebounds – Mitchell (10), Burgess III (9), Ahnstrand (5)
Assists – Ahnstrand (6), Pullen (4), Reams (3), Da Campo (3), Mitchell (3), Monk (3), Burgess III (3)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will return home to face Mount Olive this Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m. inside the Weisiger Center.
 
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