FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College men's basketball team fell in their final road game of the regular season on Saturday afternoon going down 83-73 in Fayetteville to conference rival Methodist University.
Methodist led 40-35 at the break shooting 48 percent while NC Wesleyan actually shot better at 54 percent. However, MU made more threes in the half making the difference.
Wesleyan also had a better shooting percentage in the second half as well (53-48%), but MU made four more threes and a few more free throws as they held off the Bishops down the stretch for the conference win. Wesleyan struggled from long-range for the game going just 3 of 18 (16.7%) from behind the arc leading to the loss.
Senior forward Robert Wilson led the Bishops with 18 points along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Junior forward Ricardo Bullock and junior center A.J. Frye also each finished with 13 points apiece as the trio were the only Bishops to finish in double-figures. Bullock added 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal in his solid game while Frye added two blocks with 4 rebounds and a steal as well.
Senior Guard Justin Tankelewicz finished with 8 points and 3 assists as he made 2 of 4 threes for the Bishops while fellow senior guard Chris Braswell added a team-best 6 assists and 2 steals. Fellow guard, sophomore Josh Covington, also added 7 points with 2 assists.
MU improves to 11-6 in the USA South and 13-12 overall while dropping the East Division Champion Bishops to 12-5 in the conference.
However, Wesleyan, who finished the regular season at 19-6, has already secured the top seed in the East and will return home on Tuesday evening at 7:30 PM to host a USA South Tournament Quarterfinal game vs. Averett University.
Tickets for the tournament contests can be purchased at the venue. Adult general admission is $8.00 while institutional faculty/staff/students along with senior citizens (65 years and older) and children are $3.00. Children under the age of six are free.