North Carolina Wesleyan jumped to a 17-1 lead and never looked back, giving the Pfeiffer University men’s basketball team their first loss of the season in a 101-68 USA South game on Sunday afternoon.
After losing 17-1, the bishops increased the advantage to 22-4, the biggest advantage of the first half. Pfeiffer managed a run and reduced the Bishops’ lead, leveling the game at 34-34 after a basket from veteran Donnie Haith (Aberdeen, NC).
NCWC would go on a 7-2 run to close the range, taking the 41-36 lead to the break after Damon McDowell hit a three point ball in the break.
The bishops took advantage of the momentum with that stroke and started the second half with a 30-3 streak to provide a 66-44 lead.
Pfeiffer failed to recover and failed to reach 15 points the rest of the way.
Haith led the way for Pfeiffer with 16 points, while Sean Scott (Waldorf, Md.) And Diez Mungro (Latta, SC) had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Mungro and freshman Dorian Miles (Greenville, SC) had the team’s five best rebounds.
NCWC was led by McDowell’s 34 points, while three other teammates got double figures. In addition to McDowell’s tremendous effort, Sal Young made a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds to accompany the bishops.
The loss leaves Pfeiffer 3-1 overall and 3-1 in the Southern US game, while NC Wesleyan improves to 9-4 and 6-1.
The Falcons are scheduled to return to play on Wednesday, February 17 at Merner Gym, receiving Averett in a game at 4:30 pm.