N.C. Wesleyan NCWC 11-9,5-4 USA South

William Peace WPU 9-11,4-5 USA South

N.C. Wesleyan NCWC

11-9,5-4 USA South

Final

Jan. 31, 2024

William Peace WPU

9-11,4-5 USA South

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
N.C. Wesleyan NCWC	26	35	61
William Peace WPU	37	27	64

Summary
Box Score

Carly Vadinsky

Timothy Pettiford Led The Pacers With A Game-High 20 Points After He Was Honored

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/31/2024 10:56:00 PM | WPU Athletic Communications

Pacers Outlast N.C. Wesleyan 64-61; Pettiford Honored Before Tip-Off

RALEIGH, N.C. – Spurred by a vocal home crowd, William Peace gained a much needed men's basketball victory on Wednesday night.

Timothy Pettiford scored 20 points and Beau Bryant added 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Pacers outlasted North Carolina Wesleyan 64-61 at the Hermann Athletic Center. The Battling Bishops airballed a three-pointer as time expired to the delight of the fans.

"A gritty performance for our guys," Pacers Head Coach Claude Shields said. "I am very proud of the effort. We fought through a dry spell in the second half and made plays down the stretch to get it done!"

The victory stopped a three-game losing skid for the Pacers, and it couldn't have come at a better time. With five games left in the regular season, including three straight at home, the Pacers (4-5 USA South, 9-11 overall) can solidify a berth in the USA Conference Tournament.

The Pacers, sitting in sixth place, have home rematches remaining against three teams ahead of them in the USA South standings, including conference leader Mary Baldwin. The top six out of eight league teams advance to the tournament.

William Peace fared much better in the second meeting Wednesday against N.C. Wesleyan, which won the first matchup 76-69 last week in Rocky Mount, N.C. This time, the Pacers took the fight to the Battling Bishops, opening a 13-point first half lead. Pettiford scored 10 points and Michael Dulin added nine as the Pacers shot 48.1 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes.

Their lead increased to 15 (45-30) early in second half on Dulin's jumper. The Pacers then withstood a Bishops' rally that whittled the margin to single digits. Ahead by three with under two minutes left, the Pacers' Malachi Borders made a clutch half-hook shot with time running down on the shot clock. His basket pushed the lead to 61-56.

After a Wesleyan layup, Pettiford swished two free throws for a 63-58 lead with 31.2 seconds left. He returned to the line after Wesleyan (5-4 USA South, 11-9 overall) converted a three-point play, making one of two for a 64-61 lead which set the stage for the final moments.

Coming out of a timeout with 8.8 seconds left, the Bishops misfired on a three-pointer but got the rebound. The second three-pointer didn't hit the rim, giving the Pacers' the win.

Both Dulin and Ryan Lominick came off the bench to score 13 points and nine points, respectively, for the Pacers, who outscored the Bishops 24-18 in bench points. Pettiford added seven rebounds and three steals, and Shawn Jones blocked four shots.

Kyron Kelly scored 18 points for N.C. Wesleyan, which shot 44.1 percent in the second half. Austin Manley, who scored 17 in the first game between both teams, was held to four points. Marquis Eskew added 10 points after scoring 16 in the first meeting.

The Bishops held a 39-29 rebounding advantage which led to 18 second-chance points, but the Pacers scored 20 points off 17 Wesleyan turnovers. The Pacers made 14 of 18 free throw attempts for 77.8 percent compared to 4 of 6 for 66.7 percent for Wesleyan.

Pettiford scored a game-high 20 points after being honored pre-game for scoring 1,000 career points combined at William Peace and N.C. Wesleyan, where he made his collegiate start. Shields presented Pettiford with a commemorative ball and they both took photos with Pettiford's parents and N.C. Wesleyan Head Coach John Thompson.

The Pacers will travel to face Greensboro on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. They return home for three consecutive league games next week.

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