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Men's Basketball Win First-Ever Meeting Against Columbia

Men's Basketball Win First-Ever Meeting Against Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C.- The men's basketball team used a dominate second half to win the first-ever meeting against the Columbia College Koalas on Saturday. After trailing at halftime, the Bulldogs won the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) by a final score of 84-62.

TWU began the game with strong defensive energy, as Amauri Young set the tone by stealing the ball on the first possession and scoring two free throws to give the Bulldogs a quick lead. Jay Reed and Charles Neverdon added to the early momentum with defensive rebounds and fast-break layups, helping TWU take a 10-0 lead within the first three minutes. Columbia fought back with three-pointers, narrowing the gap. Young kept TWU in the lead with a series of jump shots, while Ty Hurst added a critical jumper to maintain the advantage. The opponents put together a late surge though to put the Bulldogs behind 41-34 at halftime.

TWU came out firing in the second half, outscoring Columbia 50-21 in a commanding display. Young opened the scoring with a layup, followed by an assist to Reed, who converted with precision. Neverdon nailed a three-pointer to give Tennessee Wesleyan a lead they would not relinquish. Hurst and Stratton Lovvorn contributed from beyond the arc, while Reed's relentless drives to the basket extended the lead. Defensively, the Bulldogs forced multiple turnovers, with steals by Young and Reed converting into fast-break points. Armando Cuardado controlled the boards and added crucial putbacks to maintain the Bulldogs' momentum. By the final whistle, TWU had firmly established their dominance.

Young led all scorers with 25 points while Hurst (17), Neverdon (16) and Reed (14) also finished in double figures for the Bulldogs.

Tennessee Wesleyan (3-6, 2-3 AAC) stays on the road for an AAC contest against Bluefield University. The game on Tuesday is set to begin at 7:30 p.m.