ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College men's basketball team went on a big second half run to defeat NAIA foe St. Andrews University 91-73 in the first day of the Roger Taylor Invitational on Friday evening.
Greensboro College defeated VU-Lynchburg 84-72 in the first game of the RTI earlier Friday from Rocky Mount. Greensboro (3-5) will next face 1-8 St. Andrews on Saturday at 1 PM from Everett Gym while the 5-3 Bishops take on VUL (0-4) later Saturday at 3 PM.
Senior wing Damon McDowell led the Bishops with 24 points on the night along with 6 rebounds scoring 16 of his points in the second half on 7 of 11 shooting as the Bishops outscored the Knights 46-36. Wesleyan got out to an 8-0 lead to begin the game led by a game-opening dunk from McDowell. A sustained run from St. Andrews would then give the Knights their first lead at 26-25 before the Bishops closed the half on a 20-11 run to lead 45-37 at the break.
SAU would climb to within five points on multiple occasions in the second half, but could get no closer with Wesleyan going on a final 28-14 run to clinch the big win. Wesleyan shot 49 percent overall for the game but just 26 percent from three while holding SAU to just 42 percent shooting.
Also playing well for the Bishops was junior forward Sal-Bey Young scoring a season-high of 15 points on 6 of 9 shooting along with 7 rebiunds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a season-best 3 blocks. Sophomore guard Marquis Eskew also scored 13 points off the bench in 24 minutes making three 3-pointers along with 5 rebounds.
Fellow sophomore guard Khalid Hinds also finished in double-figures with his season-high of 12 points, 7 rebounds and team-highs in assists with 4 and steals with 4 (also a season-best). Junior Forwards Isaiah Lewis and Tim Pettiford combined for 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals in the win as well while sophomore forward Kyron Kelly finished with a team-best 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Wesleyan improves to 5-3 with the win and will resume action in the Roger Taylor Classic on Saturday.