RALEIGH, NC – The William Peace University men's basketball team was back in action Monday night after a nearly week-and-a-half layoff, hosting the North Carolina Wesleyan Battling Bishops where the Pacers dropped the highest scoring game ever played at the Hermann Athletic Center, 100-90.

It's only the second time in program history WPU has lost when scoring 90 points or more. They're 8-2 all-time. It's also the first time in program history the Pacers have allowed 100 points and only the second time WPU or an opposing team has hung 100 at the Herm.

Chris Thomas was one of four Pacers in double figures with a game high 24 points and seven rebounds.  Ryan Emfinger scored 16 points to go with five rebounds and an assists. Dakota King went 3-of-4 from beyond the arc for 15 points, a rebound and an assist. Terry Rogers finished with 10 points and three assists in 19 minutes off the bench.

It should also be noted that Jalen Vince racked up nine assists, which matches the program record previously established by Mike Wolf in the Pacers' inaugural 2012-13 season. Vince ranks third in the USA South, averaging 3.8 assists per contest and is well on pace to surpass his own program record of 83 assists last season.

Both teams shot better than 50%, as the Pacers (7-10, 2-4 USAS) finished 31-of-62 (50%) from the field, 11-of-31 (35.5%) from deep and 17-of-23 (74%) at the free-throw line. NC Wesleyan (11-6, 4-2 USAS) shot 40-of-73 (54.8%) from the field, 9-of-23 (39.1%) from the bonusphere and 11-of-14 (78.6%) at the stripe. While WPU held a slight edge from long-distance and at the line, the Bishops dominated in the paint, outscoring the Pacers, 50-32. 

"We want to be able to play up in the 90's and the 100's, but regardless of how you play offense you have to be able to defend guys a little better than we did tonight and especially around the basket," said Head Coach Claude Shields. "We have to be able to go win games in the mud, do all the little things coaches talk about, and to execute on both ends. We didn't do that tonight and lost to a good team that played really well."

"We have a group of guys with a really high potential, but we have to find a way for guys who have confidence…they have to be able to instill that confidence in others when they're going through a stretch," Shields added. "We were a little rusty after the long layoff, but we have some confident guys in there, and they should be confident because they are really good ball players, but it's finding a way to put your arm the others and saying 'Hey, I've been here before. I've been in your shoes,  so let's get it done together."

WPU  managed to erase 15-point second half deficits in their previous two, and they faced that same deficit, 94-79, with 2:31 left on the clock. The Pacers did everything in their power to pull off a miraculous comeback. Thomas hit three triples in the next two minutes, as the Pacers made it a 95-90 game with 32 ticks remaining, but the Bishops finished 5-of-6 from the stripe to salt it away.

Five players reached double figures for NC Wesleyan led by 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal from DJ Weaver. Brandon Brown added 19 points, seven boards and four assists. Shannon Huff flirted with a triple-double, posting 10 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.

The Pacers turn around in less than 48 hours, traveling to Fayetteville for an important conference game against Methodist University Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. 

For the latest news and updates from William Peace University Athletics, please visit: http://gopeacepacers.com/.