SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team defeated Francis Marion 76-58 on Thursday evening inside the Weisiger Center.
 
With the win Converse snapped a six game losing streak and won their first game in the month of February. The Valkyries improve to 5-3 all-time against the Patriots and 3-1 in games played inside the Weisiger Center. Overall the Valkyries are 7-13 this season and 5-10 in Conference Carolinas action. Meanwhile, Francis Marion falls to 7-16 overall and 7-8 in Conference Carolinas play.
 
Senior Jordyn Surratt (Spartanburg, S.C.) led the team with 21 points on Thursday evening and scored his 1,000 career point against his former team. The senior is closing in on becoming just the fourth player in program history to score over 400 points in a single season. The last players to accomplish the feat were Uzziah Dawkins and C.J. Jamison during the 2023-2024 basketball season.
 
Tre Locklear (Boiling Springs, S.C.) finished second on the team with 14 points and led the team with five assists on the evening. Ethan Brownell (Celina, Texas) scored a career high 12 points in the win for the Valkyries. Camden Edmonds (King, N.C.) led the team with six rebounds and Zayd Taylor (Arlington, Texas) finished second on the team with four assists on the evening.
 
Francis Marion won the opening tip-off and missed their first shot, but an offensive rebound kept the possession alive for the Patriots. Francis Marion capitalized on the second chance opportunity and scored the first points of the game. Following back-to-back turnovers by both teams, Locklear found Surrat for the first points of the game.
 
A Francis Marion three-pointer at the 17:55 mark of the opening half gave the Patriots a 5-3 edge. The two teams went back-and-forth over the next several minutes of game action. With just 14 minutes remaining in the half, Locklear found Brownell for his first three pointer of the game. The freshman's three point basket pulled Converse within a basket down 10-8.
 
The Patriots continued to pressure the Valkyries early as they used a 6-2 run in between media timeouts to take a 16-10 advantage. Converse came alive following the timeout break and used a 10-2 run to steal the lead and the momentum back from Francis Marion.
 
At the 4:41 mark of the first half, Jonathon Pickering hit a three-pointer that capped the Valkyries second 10-2 run against Francis Marion. Going into the media timeout, Converse held a 30-23 edge over Francis Marion. The Patriots chipped away at the Valkyries lead and used a 7-0 run to cap off the opening period of action.
 
Converse was outscored 32-30 in the opening half of action, shooting 34 percent from the field, 27 percent from three-point range and 60 percent from the free throw line.   
Coming out of the halftime break, Edmonds found Locklear for a three-pointer on the Valkyries first possession down the court. On the Valkyries very next possession down the court Locklear found Brownell for the Valkyries second three pointer of the half.
 
Francis Marion scored their first points of the second period at the line, but they did not score their first field goal of the half until the 15:59 mark. With 13:45 to go in the half, Surratt drove to the basket and made a layup. The senior was fouled on the play and converted the free throw attempt. The free throw attempt was the Spartanburg native's 1,000^th point of his career. The Valkyries continued to press and make shots against the Patriots and with 13:05 to play in the game Converse held a 45-38 advantage.
 
Converse controlled the rest of the game and at one point held a 21-point edge over Francis Marion. The Valkyries outscored the Patriots 46-26 in the second half, shooting 66 percent from the field, 71 percent from the three-point arch and 86 percent from the free throw line.
 
Stats:
Points: Surratt (21), Locklear (14), Brownell (12)
Rebounds: Edmonds (6), Surratt (5)
Assists: Locklear (5), Taylor (4)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will hit the road this weekend with a trip to Erskine on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is currently slated for 4:00 p.m.      
 
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