The Selma Times-Journal

A second-half surge by the Concordia College Hornets led to a 74-69 win against William Carey College Wednesday night.

With the score tied at 57 and 6:22 left in the game, Concordia pushed ahead by four within the following minute on a field goal and two free throws from Ronald Cooper. William Carey could only get as close as three points the rest of the way.

Cooper, one of the returnees from last season, led the second-half charge, accounting for 16 straight points in an eight-minute stretch in the half. He knocked down nine points and handed out three assists.

“We know we’re basically a small team, but we’re just trying to spread them out,” said Cooper. “Nine times out of 10, I can get by my man, can dump it off for an easy layup for my teammate or I can pull up for a shot.”

Cooper finished with 14 points for the game, all in the second half. Joshua Williams lead all scorers with 24 points, including four 3-pointers. Roddrice Griffin and William Walden chipped in 12 points each for Concordia in its home opener in front of a crowd of 225.

Concordia never got into an offensive rhythm and came up short to the Crusaders, 60-54.

“We came out flat tonight,” said Earnest Foster, Concordia’s coach. “We didn’t play with a sense of urgency tonight. We also missed 15 free throws including seven front ends of one-and-ones. William Carey is a good team. We knew it, and that’s why we scheduled them.”

Concordia finished the last 11 minutes of the first half with just two field goals and went into the locker room down 27-15.

The Hornets came out fighting the first seven minutes of the second half, knotting the game at 31. But the Crusaders came back to outscore Concordia 18-3 the next eight minutes to take a 15-point lead. WCU was able to get inside for easy baskets. The Hornets could only get as close as seven the rest of the way.

WCU’s Britta Stephens scored a game high 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Fallon Hartfield added a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds and scoring 14 points.

Santana Seay netted 15 points, four rebounds and four steals for Concordia, who evens its record at 1-1. Point guard Jazzlyn Prince finished the game with 11 points, six steals, and five rebounds.