Southern Wesleyan Wins First-Ever Conference Carolinas Title in School History - Mar 9, 2020
Southern Wesleyan won its first-ever Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball title on Sunday afternoon as they defeated the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in a 78-68 final. The Warriors shot 45.0% from the field in the championship game. Senior guard, Clenzo Ross (6'2''-G), led the team with 22 points as he was also named tournament Most Valuable Player. Ta'Jay Dunlap (5'10''-PG) posted 17 points and Solomon Smith (6'6''-F) added 14 as both Dunlap and Smith were named to the 2020 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship All-Tournament Team. Ross and fellow senior, Cameron Holmes (6'3''-G), each had four assists and Dunlap would have three steals. The team gathered 32 rebounds as Smith led the team with seven and Hunter Davis (6'7''-F) followed with six. Holmes, Ross, and Davis each had a block in the contest.
Coach Pasqua Says... "So proud of our team and being able to clinch a spot in the NCAA tournament. This is a big honor for our program and university. Looking forward to competing next weekend."
How It Happened The Warriors posted the first basket of the 2020 Conference Carolinas Men's Basketball Championship with a 3-pointer from Ta'Jay Dunlap. Belmont Abbey took a one point lead at 6-5 and 9-8 before the Warriors would regather with an 11-9 advantage that led to a 15-12 lead with Dunlap and Clenzo Ross leading the way. The Crusaders tied the game at 15-15 on a free throw from Romeao Ferguson. Solomon Smith helped the Warriors at the post with back to back layups as the lead would extend to 28-19 for the Warriors. The biggest lead thus far came at 36-23 as Southern Wesleyan pressed on with the pressure on offense and defense. Ross would knock down a 3-point jump shot at the buzzer and the Warriors would hang on to a 45-28 lead going into the halftime break. Belmont Abbey answered first in the second half and played with a bit of momentum before Ross and Dunlap put the Warriors up 54-30. The Crusaders would hold Southern Wesleyan after Jalen Lowery's 3-pointer for several minutes as they chipped away at the lead with a 12-0 run. Smith's free throw and TJ Harvin's 3-point put the Warriors right back in control as the game would approach the final nine minutes. Belmont Abbey pulled within eight or nine points several times, but the Warriors continued to build onto their momentum with Cameron Holmes adding a layup to go up 76-62. The Crusaders made a late 3-pointer from Quest Aldridge, but Southern Wesleyan's big first half would propel them to a 78-68 final.
All-Tournament MVP: Clenzo Ross (6'2''-G) of S.Wesleyan Player of the Year: Jordan Floyd (6'2''-G) of King Defensive Player of the Year: Romeao Ferguson (6'5''-G) of Belm.Abbey Freshman of the Year: BJ McLaurin (6'7''-F) of Chowan Co-Coach of the Year: Nick Pasqua of S.Wesleyan Co-Coach of the Year: George Pitts of King
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