BELMONT, N.C. – The Converse University men's basketball team fell 80-69 to Belmont Abbey on Wednesday evening inside the Wheeler Center.
 
With the loss the Valkyries drop to 6-11 overall and 4-8 in Conference Carolinas action. Meanwhile, Belmont Abbey improves to 6-13 overall and 4-9 in Conference Carolinas play. This is the first time since the 2021-2022 basketball season that the Crusaders have completed the season sweep of the Valkyries.
 
Freshman Jonathon Pickering made his first career start on Wednesday evening and made the most of it for the Valkyries. The Peach State native played a career high 30 minutes and finished with a career high in points (22) and rebounds (6). Senior Jordyn Surratt is continuing his quest for 1,000 career points, on Wednesday night he got 18 points closer to his goal and keeps his double-digit point streak alive. Zayd Taylor who got the call up from the developmental team earlier this semester finished third on the team with nine points on Wednesday evening.
 
Converse won the opening tip-off and Camden Edmonds found Taylor for the first points of the contest. In fact, the Valkyries started the game on a 6-0 run with following back-to-back baskets by Ioannis Donakis. Belmont Abbey finally got on the board with 18:24 to play in the opening half, on the Valkyries next possession down the court Surratt hit his first three-pointer of the contest.
 
Going into the first media timeout of the game, Converse held a 14-11 edge over the Crusaders. Following the break in the action, Belmont Abbey used a 14-0 run to steal the momentum away from the Valkyries. Finally, with 8:36 to play in the contest, Taylor hit a fastbreak three-pointer to end the scoring drought for Converse.
 
Belmont Abbey held a double-digit advantage the rest of the first half and the Valkyries went into the halftime break down 42-30. The Valkyries shot 44 percent in the first half, 30 percent from three point range and 50 percent from the free throw line.
 
Belmont Abbey opened up the second half on a 14-2 run against the Valkyries. Pickering scored the first field goal for the Valkyries in the second half with 15:24 to play in the contest. In fact the freshman scored the next seven points for the Converse offense and kept the Valkyries within striking distance of the Crusaders.
 
Trailing 64-45 with 10:26 to play in the game, Converse continued to chip away at the Crusaders advantage. Then with four minutes to go, Tre Locklear found Edmonds for a three-pointer. The basket capped off a 16-5 run. One media timeout later, Pickering hit a pair of free throws and Converse was back within six points of Belmont Abbey.
 
Despite the Valkyries best attempts the Crusaders hit their free throws down the stretch. Converse ran out of time before they could complete the comeback against Belmont Abbey. The Valkyries outscored Belmont Abbey 42-30 in the second half, shooting 50 percent from the field, 20 percent from three point range and 69 percent from the free throw line.
 
Stats:
Points: Pickering (22), Surratt (18), Taylor (9)
Rebounds: Surratt (7), Edmonds (6), Pickering (6)
Assists: Surratt (3), Taylor (2), Edmonds (2), Locklear (2)

Next Up:
The men's basketball team will stay on the road this weekend with a trip to Mount Olive on Saturday afternoon. Tip-Off is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start in Mount Olive, N.C.   
 
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