DANVILLE, Va. - The 4th seeded NC Wesleyan College men's basketball team put up a valiant fight in their intense USA South Conference tournament battle at top-seeded Averett University on Tuesday night, but unfortunately fell 75-65 in the end.
The Battling Bishops got out to a solid 17-10 lead in the first 9 minutes of the game led by 10 points from senior forward Rico Bullock. However, Averett (20-6) would then go on a 20-6 run to take a 7-point lead late in the half. Wesleyan, though, would not be undone as junior wing Damon McDowell went on to score 6 straight points to trim Averett's lead down to three at 32-29 at the break.
After Wesleyan (13-13) jumped out to a slim 37-36 lead 5 minutes into the second half, AU would then go on a game-changing 19-6 run to take a 12-point lead with 8 minutes to play. The Bishops would get within 4 points at 67-63 with 1:15 to play, but could sadly get no closer as AU closed out the game with free throws down the stretch to advance to the conference semifinals.
The Bishops shot 38.5 percent for the game, better than the Cougars, but AU made five more threes overall than the Bishops helping to push them to the win. Wesleyan was led by McDowell's team-high 18 points and 3 steals while Bullock scored 11 with 5 rebounds and a block in his final game.
Fellow senior, A.J. Frye, also finished with 10 points and a block in his last game while senior guard Cameron Martin scored eight. Sophomore forward Isaiah Lewis was the 4th Bishop in double-digit points as he scored 10 along with 5 boards, 2 blocks, and a steal while freshman point guard Devin Resper led the Bishops in rebounds with 7 and assists with 5 as well as 2 blocks and a steal.
NC Wesleyan has also clinched at least 13 wins and at least a .500 season for the 12th straight year.
Averett will now host the conference semifinals on Friday and Saturday.
https://usasouth.net/tournaments/mbkb/2019-20/index