SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team defeated Shorter 77-69 on Friday evening inside the Weisiger Center.
With the win Converse improves to 6-7 overall and 4-4 in Conference Carolinas action this season. Meanwhile, Shorter drops to 5-8 overall and 3-4 in Conference Carolinas play. Jordynn Surratt (Spartanburg, S.C.) led the team with a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Will Fowler (Duncan, S.C.) and
Tre Locklear (Boiling Springs, S.C.) both contributed 17 and 16 points respectively.
Camden Edmonds (King, N.C.) added an 11-point and 10-rebound double-double performance in the win for the Valkyries.
Shorter won the opening tip-off but it was Converse who struck first with a 5-0 run to start the contest. Locklear scored the first three-pointer of the contest followed by a Fowler mid-range jumper. The Hawks answered with a 7-3 run of their own to stay within striking distance of the Valkyries.
For the majority of the first half the two teams stayed within a single possession of one another. Then with 7:10 to play in the period the Valkyries made their first major run of the game with a 7-0 run against the Hawks.
The Valkyries built a 13-point lead in the opening half and went into the halftime break up 43-30. Converse shot 48 percent in the opening half, 46 percent from three-point range and 90 percent from the free throw line.
Locklear once again started the half with a three-point basket for the Valkyries. Converse opened the second half on a 12-3 run and held a 55-33 advantage over Shorter with 15:30 to play in the half. With 10:30 to play in the game, a Surratt layup gave the Valkyries their largest lead of the game at 65-41.
Over the next seven minutes of game time Shorter began to chip away at the Valkyries 20-point lead. Following a 21-5 run in favor of the Hawks, Converse clung to a 70-62 advantage over Shorter.
Despite the close call, Converse was able to hold off the Hawks as they hit their free throws down the stretch. The Valkyries were outscored 39-34 in the second half, shooting 31 percent from the field, 28 percent from three-point range and 83 percent from three throw line.
Stats:
Points: Surratt (25), Fowler (17), Locklear (16), Edmonds (11)
Rebounds: Surratt (11), Edmonds (10), Brownell (5), Lawrence (5)
Assists: Fowler (5), Surratt (3), Locklear (3)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will return home this Wednesday night to battle South Carolina Central Christian College. The game is set to tip-off at 7:00 p.m. inside the Weisiger Center.
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