BUENA VISTA, V.A. - The William Peace Pacers fell to Southern Virginia 81-69 in a hard-fought contest at Knight Arena in Buena Vista, Virginia. The Pacers battled throughout but ultimately came up short against another strong conference opponent. They now stand at 2-12 overall and 0-3 in conference play.

The Pacers started strong, scoring 35 points in the first half and staying within five points of the Knights at halftime. Senior Michael Dulin led the way with a standout performance, tallying 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, along with seven rebounds and a steal. 

Parker Hodgson added 16 points and contributed key defensive plays with two steals. Tyler Whitehurst chipped in 13 points, including two three-pointers. 

The Pacers struggled to contain Southern Virginia in the paint, where the Knights scored 46 points. Their second-half shooting also affected WPU's comeback efforts, with the Pacers shooting just 25% from beyond the arc after the break.

WPU's balanced rebounding effort was a highlight, as they pulled down 31 total boards, including eight on the offensive end. However, Southern Virginia was able to capitalize on the Pacer's 16 turnovers, to improve to 13-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play. 

The Pacers will look to regroup and get back into the win column in their next match up as they continue navigating a challenging conference schedule. The Pacers will face North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount on January 15th at 5:30 PM.