Post by The Cats on Jan 13, 2024 22:00:43 GMT -5
SoCon Saturday, what a day in Southern Conference basketball. Western Carolina and Samford both took care of business today, setting the stage for a showdown on national TV next Tuesday in Cullowhee. Furman wins, letting the rest of the SoCon know they are a team that the front runners will have to deal with, and UNCG also made their statement with a convincing win over Chattanooga, while Wofford remains relevant with their win over the Citadel.
Wofford 72 - The Citadel 71
The Terrier's Dillon Bailey posted 18 points to lead Wofford's 72-71 victory over Citadel on Saturday. Bailey hit 7-of-11 shooting, and Jackson Sivills scored 16 points, going 5 of 10. Anthony Arrington, Jr. shot 5 for 6, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Bulldogs were led by Elijah Morgan, who recorded a game-high 21 points. AJ Smith added 18 points, , and Madison Durr finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Wofford went into the half leading Citadel 40-30. Bailey scored 15 points in the second half to help lead Wofford to a one-point victory.
ETSU 73 - Furman 82
Furman's Alex Williams and JP Pegues both scored 20 points each as the Paladins ran past ETSU 82-73 on Saturday. Carter Whitt shot 5 of 9 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line to finish with 14 points while adding five rebounds, five assists, and four steals. The Bucs were led by Jaden Seymour, who scored a game-high 23 points. ETSU also got 16 points and seven rebounds from Quimari Peterson, and Ebby Asamoah finished with 11 points and two blocks. Furman took the lead with 13:30 to go in the first half and did not give it up. Furman turned an eight-point second-half lead into a 21-point advantage with a 16-3 run to make it a 69-48 lead with 11:40 left in the half.
WCU 64 - Mercer 52
Vonterius Woolbright's 14 points and 15 rebounds for his fourteenth double-double helped Western Carolina defeat Mercer 64-52 on Saturday. Russell Jones also posted 14 points, shooting 6 for 10, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc. Tre Jackson was 3-of-11 shooting, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the foul line to finish with 10 points. The Catamounts extended their winning streak to nine games. Mercer's David Thomas led the way for the Bears with 12 points and Jalyn McCreary added 11 points. The Catamounts took the lead with 4:14 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 29-25 at halftime, with Woolbright racking up nine points. Western Carolina pulled away with a 14-2 run in the second half to extend a six-point lead to 18 points. They outscored Mercer by eight points in the final half.
VMI 96 - Samford 134
Samford's Achor Achor scored 18 points and added seven rebounds and Riley Allenspach also scored 18 points, off of the bench, to lead the Bulldogs past VMI 134-96 in the15th straight victory for the Bulldogs. A.J. Staton-McCray was 6 of 10 shooting and 2 of 4 from the free throw line to finish with 15 points, while adding five rebounds and three steals. The Keydets were led by Taeshaud Jackson, who recorded a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds. Stephen Olowoniyi posted 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyran Cook added 16 points and four assists. Samford took the lead with 19:43 remaining in the first half and did not look back. Samford extended its lead to 91-59 during the second half, fueled by a 17-3 scoring run. Staton-McCray scored a team-high 11 points in the second half as his team closed out the win. Samford plays Western Carolina on the road on Tuesday.
UNCG 70 - Chattanooga 54
The Spartans Keyshaun Langley posted 17 points to help UNCG defeat Chattanooga 70-54 in the Roundhouse on Saturday night. Kobe Langley added 15 points while going 6 of 10 (3 for 5 from 3-point range), and he added 11 assists and three steals. Donovan Atwell had 12 points and shot 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. Trey Bonham led the way for the Mocs with a game-high 25 points and two steals. Honor Huff added 10 points and four steals for Chattanooga in the loss.
Wofford 72 - The Citadel 71
The Terrier's Dillon Bailey posted 18 points to lead Wofford's 72-71 victory over Citadel on Saturday. Bailey hit 7-of-11 shooting, and Jackson Sivills scored 16 points, going 5 of 10. Anthony Arrington, Jr. shot 5 for 6, including 3 for 3 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. The Bulldogs were led by Elijah Morgan, who recorded a game-high 21 points. AJ Smith added 18 points, , and Madison Durr finished with 11 points and eight rebounds. Wofford went into the half leading Citadel 40-30. Bailey scored 15 points in the second half to help lead Wofford to a one-point victory.
ETSU 73 - Furman 82
Furman's Alex Williams and JP Pegues both scored 20 points each as the Paladins ran past ETSU 82-73 on Saturday. Carter Whitt shot 5 of 9 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line to finish with 14 points while adding five rebounds, five assists, and four steals. The Bucs were led by Jaden Seymour, who scored a game-high 23 points. ETSU also got 16 points and seven rebounds from Quimari Peterson, and Ebby Asamoah finished with 11 points and two blocks. Furman took the lead with 13:30 to go in the first half and did not give it up. Furman turned an eight-point second-half lead into a 21-point advantage with a 16-3 run to make it a 69-48 lead with 11:40 left in the half.
WCU 64 - Mercer 52
Vonterius Woolbright's 14 points and 15 rebounds for his fourteenth double-double helped Western Carolina defeat Mercer 64-52 on Saturday. Russell Jones also posted 14 points, shooting 6 for 10, including 2 for 4 from beyond the arc. Tre Jackson was 3-of-11 shooting, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 3 from the foul line to finish with 10 points. The Catamounts extended their winning streak to nine games. Mercer's David Thomas led the way for the Bears with 12 points and Jalyn McCreary added 11 points. The Catamounts took the lead with 4:14 left in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 29-25 at halftime, with Woolbright racking up nine points. Western Carolina pulled away with a 14-2 run in the second half to extend a six-point lead to 18 points. They outscored Mercer by eight points in the final half.
VMI 96 - Samford 134
Samford's Achor Achor scored 18 points and added seven rebounds and Riley Allenspach also scored 18 points, off of the bench, to lead the Bulldogs past VMI 134-96 in the15th straight victory for the Bulldogs. A.J. Staton-McCray was 6 of 10 shooting and 2 of 4 from the free throw line to finish with 15 points, while adding five rebounds and three steals. The Keydets were led by Taeshaud Jackson, who recorded a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds. Stephen Olowoniyi posted 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyran Cook added 16 points and four assists. Samford took the lead with 19:43 remaining in the first half and did not look back. Samford extended its lead to 91-59 during the second half, fueled by a 17-3 scoring run. Staton-McCray scored a team-high 11 points in the second half as his team closed out the win. Samford plays Western Carolina on the road on Tuesday.
UNCG 70 - Chattanooga 54
The Spartans Keyshaun Langley posted 17 points to help UNCG defeat Chattanooga 70-54 in the Roundhouse on Saturday night. Kobe Langley added 15 points while going 6 of 10 (3 for 5 from 3-point range), and he added 11 assists and three steals. Donovan Atwell had 12 points and shot 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. Trey Bonham led the way for the Mocs with a game-high 25 points and two steals. Honor Huff added 10 points and four steals for Chattanooga in the loss.
