WILSON, N.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team defeated No. 12 North Greenville 79-74 inside Wilson Gymnasium to advance to the Second Round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament for the second time in program history.
With the win the Valkyries improve to 12-15 overall this season and they avenged their triple overtime postseason loss against North Greenville from a season ago. Converse concludes the season with a 3-0 record against the Trailblazers. North Greenville ends the season with an overall record of 10-20.
Joel Pullen led the team with 20-points, while
Earl Burgess III and
Jay Mitchell each contributed 15-points in the victory.
Kyle Monk and
Leo Da Campo both tied for the team lead with six rebounds each, and Pullen finished with a team best four assists.
Converse won the opening tip-off and
Jay Mitchell knocked down a three-pointer on the Valkyries first possession down the court. Converse opened the period on a 6-2 run. A few minutes later, the Trailblazers had tied the match at seven, following a 5-1 run by the North Greenville offense.
The game was not tied for long, however, as Converse used a 7-2 offensive spurt to take away the momentum from North Greenville. Over the next several minutes of game time the Valkyries were able to counter any offensive run by the Trailblazers. At the 6:12 mark of the half,
Caleb Reams connected on a three-point attempt and gave the Valkyries their largest lead of the period at 35-25.
Converse continued to apply the pressure offensively to North Greenville and with 2:17 to go in the period the Valkyries held a 42-25 advantage over the Trailblazers. Converse went into the halftime break up 44-36, shooting 50 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range, and 70 percent from the free throw line.
Coming out of the halftime break, Jakari Thompson hit a three-pointer for North Greenville and the Trailblazers were back within five points at 44-39. The two teams went back-an-forth over the next several minutes of action, Michael Wilson Jr., dunked the ball and North Greenville trailed 53-50. Converse countered with a 7-0 run and the Valkyries were back on top by double-digits.
For the remainder of the half the Valkyries were able to hold off the Trailblazers advances as they hit their free throws down the stretch to close out the game. Converse was outscored 38-35 in the second half, shooting 42 percent from the field, 27 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the free throw line.
Stats:
Points: Pullen (20), Burgess III (15), Mitchell (15)
Rebounds: Monk (6), Da Campo (6), Pullen (4), Burgess III (4)
Assists: Pullen (4), Mitchell (3), Monk (3)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will play Barton tomorrow night in the second round of the Conference Carolinas men's basketball tournament.
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