Wesleyan men fall to Averett in USA South action, 94-80

Danville, VA - In Thursday night USA South men's basketball action, the Cougars of Averett University turned a five-point halftime deficit into a 14-point victory over North Carolina Wesleyan behind a triple-double by Jonathan Rumley (20 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists). With the win, the Cougars improve to 11-8 on the season, 4-2 in league action, while the loss leaves the Bishops with a 12-6 overall mark and 2-3 conference record.

The first half saw the Battling Bishops shoot 47 percent from the floor en route to a 41-36 advantage at the break. Jarmel Arrington led Wesleyan with nine points in the period, while Rumley netted 11 for the Cougars.

The lead, however, was shortlived as Averett tied the game less that three minutes into the second half and took the lead for good on a Rumley lay-up at the 16:49 mark.

Although the Cougars went on to lead by as many as 16 at 68-52 with 11:44 remaining, the Bishops did not go down without a fight. Wesleyan put together a 14-4 run to pull within six, capped by a Buddy Williams lay-up on an assist from Matt Dougherty at the 6:55 mark.

Unfortunately, AU responded with a 10-2 run of its own to go back on top by 14 with less than four minutes left regulation. The Bishops would not recover a second time in dropping their third straight contest on the road.

Arrington led the Bishops with 19 points on the night, while Lamont Stokes chipped in 18. Dougherty and Alphonzo Frazier added eight apiece in the losing effort.

As a team, Averett shot 58 percent in the second half and knocked down 18-of-31 attempts at the charity stripe in the period. The Cougars also converted 27 points off of turnovers on the night.

Wesleyan returns to action on Sunday when the Bishops travel to Ferrum College for a 4:00 p.m. match-up with the Panthers.
 

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