ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The 2nd seeded NC Wesleyan men's basketball team used solid defense and 32 points from senior Damon McDowell to knock off third seeded Pfeiffer University 81-69 in USA South First Round action from Everett Gym Tuesday night.
The Bishops improve to 19-7 on the year and advance to the semifinals of the conference tournament on Friday at Covenant College, GA. The Bishops will tip off with the West top seed and host Covenant on Friday evening at 7 PM. The 19 wins are the Bishops' most since the 2018-19 team also won 19 games.
Wesleyan jumped out to another good start leading 17-6 after the first 7 minutes of action. However, Pfeiffer (12-11) would slowly claw back in the game trimming the Bishop lead all the way down to four as NCWC would go into the half up just 37-33.
Wesleyan then came out in the second half and shot 59 percent and 66 percent from three to outscore Pfeiffer 44-36. The Bishops were also 16 of 20 from the free-throw line for the game while shooting 47 percent overall. After Pfeiffer climbed to within five at the 11 minute mark of the second half, the Bishops would then say that's close enough as they would then go on a 13-5 run to go up by 13 points and put the game away.
McDowell shot 10 of 18 overall and 8 of 10 from inside the arc while grabbing 5 rebounds, blocking three shots and getting two steals. McDowell then set the school's single-season three-point mark with 83 threes on the season. He also now stands just 32 points away from tying Lennie Hall for the most career points in school history at 1,980. McDowell currently has 1,948.
Sophomore point guard Khalid Chavis-Hinds also had a solid game finishing with 10 points (all in the second half) along with team-bests in assists with five and steals with four and tied for the team lead in rebounds with 7. Junior guard Brayden Dixon played well also scoring 13 points with 4 assists and 3 steals. Junior forwards Isaiah Lewis and Sal-Bey Young also combined for 10 points and 13 rebounds while Lewis also blocked four shots.
Fellow forward, sophomore Kyron Kelly also finished with 8 points (3 dunks), 6 rebounds, a steal and a block.