Rocky Mount, N.C. - North Carolina Wesleyan senior Alex Murray recorded a team-high 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead his Battling Bishop men's basketball team to an 80-70 USA South victory over Greensboro College on Saturday in Everett Gym. The victory evens Wesleyan's record at 10-10 on the season, 4-4 in conference action.
Greensboro (13-8, 4-4 USA South) opened the game with a 7-0 run as the Bishops struggled to find an offensive rhythm early. The bench play of junior Cornelius Snow, however, provided the spark Wesleyan needed, and a Snow-to-Murray ally-oop eventually gave NCWC its first lead, 12-11, at the 12:16 mark. The Bishops held a 32-25 advantage at the break.
Wesleyan led by as many as 20 midway through the second half as back-to-back treys by sophomore Josh Morrison and senior Justin Griffith put the Bishops on top 55-35. But the Pride would not go down without a fight, countering with an 11-0 run behind the hot shooting of Devontae Davis to cut GC's deficit to single digits.
Greensboro got as close as five points, 70-65, inside of three minutes, but Snow answered with a pair of clutch jumpers on consecutive possessions to help Wesleyan maintain its lead. Lay-ups by Murray and Domarius Thomas in the final 70 seconds sealed the deal for the Bishops, who went on to secure the 10-point victory.
Morrison, Thomas and senior Ric Yarbrough all netted 13 points apiece, while Snow finished with 10. As a team, the Bishops knocked down 15-of-18 attempts at the free throw line and shot over 49 percent from the floor.
For Greensboro, Davis finished with 12 points on four three-pointers, and Luqman Tijani led all scorers with 19.
The Bishops return to action on Wednesday when they host Averett University. Tip-off is slated for 7:30pm in Everett Gym.