Men's Basketball Unable to Hold Off Bluefield

BLUEFIELD, Va.- The men's basketball team played a regular season game for the final time in the 2024 calendar year on Tuesday. The team traveled to face the Bluefield University Rams in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) game. A battle between the two teams ended the wrong way for the Bulldogs as the team fell 91-85.

TWU began the game with an offensive burst. Armando Cuardado opened the scoring with a layup, followed by a three-pointer from Charles Neverdon to establish a 5-0 lead. Ty Hurst and Amauri Young contributed mid-range jumpers, and Neverdon's free throws extended the lead to 12-7. The Bulldogs' defense, led by rebounds from Jay Reed and strong inside presence from Cuardado, kept Bluefield in check. By halftime, TWU held a 48-40 lead, buoyed by balanced scoring and efficient ball movement.

Bluefield came out strong in the second half, narrowing the gap with quick scoring runs. Tennessee Wesleyan responded with clutch shots from Hurst and Reed, who consistently attacked the basket and controlled the boards. However, Bluefield went on a run to take the lead midway through the half. The game tightened in the final minutes, with TWU trailing by single digits. Reshaun Hampton knocked down a three-pointer, and Stratton Lovvorn added a late three to cut the deficit to one point. Despite a three-pointer by Young a few moments later, the team could not bring the score to their favor as Bluefield hit free throws at the end to hold on to their advantage.

Hampton finished the game with a team-high 16 points. Also in double figures were Hurst (14), Ty Runyan (12), Reed (10), Young (10), and Neverdon (10).

The next time the Bulldogs (3-7, 2-4 AAC) take the court will be for an exhibition game against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The exhibtion is set for Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7:00 p.m.