Men's Basketball Overcomes Spartanburg Methodist

SPARTANBURG, S.C.- The men's basketball team played their fifth straight game on the road on Saturday. The Bulldogs played the Spartanburg Methodist College Pioneers in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) game, winning the first game against the newcomers to the conference 84-79. 

Armando Cuardado got TWU off to a 6-2 start with three consecutive baskets. Sohn McGee, Reshaun Hampton, and Charles Neverdon grew the lead to 13-6 and a three-point play on a JJ Rueckert dunk grew the Bulldogs advantage to 19-9 a few minutes later. Back-to-back baskets by Stratton Lovvorn and Neverdon gave Tennessee Wesleyan a 27-17 lead at the halfway point of the first half. With 1:06 remaining in the first half, Spartanburg Methodist tied the game 37-37. Hampton made a layup at the buzzer to give the team a 39-37 lead at the break though.

After McGee scored the first basket of the second half, Spartanburg Methodist turned the lead upside down with a 10-0 run to lead 47-41. Tennessee Wesleyan trailed for the majority of the half but stayed in close range with Cory Marshall's jumper making the score 54-52. Spartanburg Methodist took their largest lead of the game though with 9:06 remaining, a 68-60 lead. At the 6:22 mark, the Bulldogs battled back to tie the game as Hampton's three-point play made the score 72-72. The opponents broke the tie and held on to the lead until a Lovvorn layup with 1:23 remaining gave TWU an 80-79 lead. The defense held off the Pioneers on their remaining possessions and two pair of free throws by Hampton helped the team seal their third straight win.

Hampton led the offense with 19 points while Lovvorn added 15 points, Rueckert had a career-high 13 points, and Neverdon had 11 points.

TWU (3-2, 2-0 AAC) stays on the road for an AAC game against Truett McConnell University on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.