NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team fell 75-73 to Newberry College on Saturday night inside Eleazer Arena.
With the loss the Valkyries drop to 1-1 on the season, while Newberry improves to 1-2 on the year.
Converse won the opening tip-off but missed their first two shot attempts, then
Ayden Hickman found
Camden Edmonds for the first three pointer of the game. Newberry then scored the next seven point unanswered to take the lead and the momentum over the Valkyries.
With 16:52 to play in the opening period, Edmonds found
Mekhi Johnson for the Valkyries first basket in nearly two minutes of game action. On the Valkyries next possession Edmonds hit a three-pointer to give Converse an 8-7 advantage over the Wolves.
With 13:25 to go in the half both teams were tied at 11.
Jayden Crews scored at the 11:56 mark and jump started a 9-0 Valkyries run. Newberry countered with a 7-0 run and the Valkyries clung to a 20-18 lead with 8:22 to go in the first period. Over the next six minutes of game action, Converse went on a 15-5 run and built a 35-23 advantage over the Wolves.
The Valkyries went into the halftime break holding a 39-30 lead over Newberry. Converse shot 51 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the free throw line.
Coming out of the halftime break Newberry scored the first six points of the second half.
Jonathon Pickering scored the first points of the half for the Valkyries and stopped the Wolves scoring run momentarily.
The remainder of the half was a slugfest between the two teams as neither side was able to pull ahead by more than two or three points. With 31 seconds to go in the game, Newberry held a 75-70 advantage over the Valkyries. Hickman hit a three pointer to pull the Valkyries within a pair at 75-73 with 22 seconds left. With 13 seconds to go in the game Newberry turned the ball over allowing Converse one more attempt to win the game. Hickman's three-pointer came up short as time expired.
Stats:
Points: Edmonds (17), Johnson (14)
Rebounds: Johnson (7), Pickering (7)
Assists: Locklear (5), Crews (3)
Next Up:
The men's basketball team will stay on the road with a trip to Middle Georgia State on Tuesday evening. Tip-off is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start.
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