Men's Basketball Drops AAC Opener Against Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn.- The men's basketball team displayed a spirited effort against the Bryan College Lions on Tuesday but fell short in a high-paced game, 84-74. Tennessee Wesleyan showed flashes of brilliance with standout performances and relentless energy throughout the contest.

TWU started strong, with Ty Hurst opening the scoring with a three-pointer assisted by Amauri Young. Peyton West followed with a series of impactful plays, including a three-pointer and a layup to keep TWU in the mix. Amauri Young contributed offensively and defensively, blocking shots and converting on fast breaks. By halftime, despite Bryan's scoring runs, TWU trailed by only nine points, 40-31.

In the second half, TWU came out aggressively, with Amauri Young and Jay Reed dominating the paint early on. Young's offensive rebounds and tip-ins sparked a rally, cutting Bryan's lead to a single point. Hurst and West continued to hit critical shots, including a deep three-pointer by Hurst that kept TWU within striking distance.

Defensively, Kariden Hardrick and Stratton Lovvorn were instrumental in creating stops, with Lovvorn adding a crucial three-pointer to TWU's tally. With under five minutes to play, the Bulldogs narrowed the gap to three points following a layup from Hurst. However, Bryan responded with a series of clutch baskets to seal the win.

Hurst led the scoring efforts with 24 points.