BANNER ELK, N.C. – North Greenville earned the 67-65 win over Lees-McRae men's basketball on Wednesday evening on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court. The Trailblazers trailed by four at the halftime break and collected their third win in Conference Carolinas play.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: North Greenville –
67; Lees-McRae – 65
LOCATION: McNair & Debi Tornow Court – Banner Elk, North Carolina
RECORDS: North Greenville (6-8/3-3), Lees-McRae (3-10/2-6)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Matthew Knafelz got the Bobcats on the board with a dunk off an assist from Dre Nelson. Lees-McRae built its lead to 8-1 with 15 minutes to play in the first half.
- North Greenville regained the lead off a three-pointer from Justin Perry, but the Bobcats battled back for the 24-22 lead off a layup from Chris Kitchings. Anthony Parker pushed the Bobcats back in front at 31-29 and Nico Ashley sent home a dunk at the buzzer for the four-point advantage.
- NGU knotted the game at 39-39 off a jumper from CaDarrius Sowell and led by three with a three-pointer from Max Topham. Knafelz gave the Bobcats the one-point lead, but North Greenville collected a double-digit lead at 57-47.
- Lees-McRae continued to battle in the second half and tied the contest at 59-59 off a three from Nico Ashley with 4:47 left in the second half. The Trailblazers connected on the go-ahead jumper from Sowell at 64-63 and Michael Wilson Jr. added to their lead at 66-63. Ashley cut the lead to one with a dunk, but NGU held off Lees-McRae for the 67-65 win on Wednesday night.
- Ja'Quavian Florence and Nigel Okwakol paced the Bobcats with 12 points apiece. Ashley had 10 points, three rebounds, and four blocks on the night. Knafelz had eight points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats.
FOR THE TRAILBLAZERS:
- Wilson Jr. had a game-high 19 points for North Greenville and Sowell followed with 16 points. Jacob Brown rounded out the Trailblazers in double-digit scoring with 12 points and 16 rebounds.
UP NEXT:
Lees-McRae men's basketball plays Barton on Saturday at 4 p.m. on the McNair & Debi Tornow Court.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on X (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
