USA SOUTH CHAMPIONS!  Bishops take out-right crown with win

Danville, VA - For the sixth time in program history, the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan can call themselves USA South Conference Champions!  Having already clinched the league's #1 seed this past Saturday, Wesleyan managed to secure the title out-right on Tuesday night with a 90-80 victory at Averett University. The regular season championship is the first since the 1999-2000 season and the second for head coach John Thompson, who becomes the first NCWC hoops coach in history to take the crown more than once.

On Tuesday at Averett, the Bishops (14-9, 10-1 USA South) raced out to a 16-point halftime lead and did not look back en route to their ninth straight win. Down 7-4 early in the contest, Wesleyan turned
the tides with a pivotal 13-0 run that saw four different Bishops enter the scoring column. Senior Lamont Stokes did most of the damage with five points and an assist during that span.

Averett pulled to within three at 17-14 midway through the period, but the Bishops responded by out-scoring the Cougars 20-3 over the next eight minutes to go up 20 just before intermission. NCWC would take a 39-23 advantage into the break.

The Cougars did not go down without a fight in the second half, getting as close as five points at 73-68 with 4:34 remaining. Wesleyan's Jarmel Arrington, however, answered with a four-point play that seemed to give the momentum back to the Bishops, who went on to secure the 10-point victory.

NCWC's Trey Drake led all scorers with a game-high 23 points and eight assists. Arrington finished with 19, while Alphonzo Frazier and Domarius Thomas chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore Devin Nichols hauled in a team-high seven rebounds.

Much of Averett's comeback in the second half can be attributed to second-chance scores. The Cougars grabbed 15 offensive rebounds in the period, leading to 20 points. Mike Miller led the way with a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards.

The Battling Bishops will wrap up their regular season schedule at home on Saturday versus Ferrum College. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m. in Everett Gymnasium, and Thompson will be honoring his six seniors prior to the contest.