Navy 75, Wofford 70
ANNAPOLIS, Md. ? The Wofford College men’s basketball team dropped a 75-70 decision to the Naval Academy on Friday night at Alumni Hall. Tim Johnson and Noah Dahlman each had career-highs with 20 and 22 points, respectively.
Wofford is 4-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while Navy is 10-4 overall and have not started Patriot League play. The Terriers were led by Noah Dahlman with 22 points and Tim Johnson with 20 points. Tim Johnson led with a career-high 16 rebounds. Navy was led by Chris Harris with 17 points and Adam Teague with 16 points as five Midshipmen scored in double figures.
The Midshipmen scored first, but Wofford held a 6-4 lead early. Navy then went on an 11-0 run to take a 15-6 lead at 14:40 in the first half. The Terriers responded with a 10-0 run, which included seven points by Noah Dahlman and a three by Kevin Giltner for a 16-15 lead.
A three by Chris Harris for Navy ended the Wofford run at 15:15 in the first half and gave the Midshipmen an 18-16 lead. The score stayed close until a 7-0 run by Navy pushed the lead to 29-22 at the five minute mark. Tim Johnson scored two straight baskets in the paint for Wofford and the score was 31-27 Navy with 4:25 remaining. Navy was able to add to the lead and had an eight point lead with 2:18 on the clock. Wofford cut the lead to 35-31, but a three by O.J. Avworo at the buzzer gave the Midshipmen a 38-31 advantage at the break.
Wofford opened the second half with six straight points to cut the lead to 37-38 at 17:31. The Midshipmen then scored the next five points for a 43-37 lead at 15:53. The Terriers then were able to tie the game at 48-48 with a basket by Terry Martin at 11:51.
The Terriers got within one point at 52-51 with a three pointer by Corey Godzinski. With the score at 55-53, both teams did not score for the next three minutes until the 5:20 mark.
After the drought, scoring picked up pace as Navy hit back-to-back threes to take a 65-57 lead at 3:25 on the clock. Navy hit ten of ten free throws in the final two minutes to secure the 75-70 win.
Wofford shot 48.3 percent from the floor and 25 percent from three. The Terriers were 67 percent from the line. The Midshipmen shot 50 percent from the floor and 36 percent from behind the arc. Navy was 86 percent from the free throw line. Wofford had a 34-27 edge on the glass.
Wofford was without guard Junior Salters, who missed the contest due to injury. Brad Loesing fouled out with 1:32 left in the game for Wofford and Mark Veazey fouled out at 1:03 for the Midshipmen. Navy is 7-0 on the season at home.
The Terriers will play at South Carolina on Monday, January 5 in Columbia. The game will be televised on SportSouth and will be the final non-conference game of the season for Wofford.
(7) Texas 78, Appalachian State 43
AUSTIN, Texas - Dexter Pittman set career highs with 21 points and 11 rebounds, leading No. 8 Texas to a 78-43 victory over Appalachian State on Friday night.
Pittman scored the final seven Texas points of the first half and the first six of the second half as the Longhorns (11-2) went on a 19-2 run to take a 44-23 lead with 14:58 left in the game.
Texas held Appalachian State (5-5) scoreless for nearly seven minutes as the Longhorns used Pittman's inside play to take control.
Damion James had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Texas, while Gary Johnson added 16 points, nine rebounds and a Longhorns season-high five blocked shots.
Kellen Brand led the Mountaineers with 12 points.