Murithi Scores 22, But SMC Drops Tight Battle to Tennessee Wesleyan

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Tennessee Wesleyan scored the final nine points of the game and held Spartanburg Methodist College scoreless over the final 3:29 on its way to an 84-79 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (3-2, 2-0 AAC) placed four players in double figures — Reshaun Hampton, Stratton Lovvorn, JJ Rueckert and Charles Neverdon. Hampton led the visitors with 19 points. Off the bench, Lovvorn and Rueckert added 15 and 13 points, respectively, while Neverdon chipped in 11.

The Pioneers (0-6, 0-2 AAC) were led by Musa Muriithi, who posted a game-high 22 points. Caleb Jenkins and Calvin Brown each scored 17, and Kennedy Aiken-Shannon added 11.

Muriithi sparked a personal 8-0 run with a 3-pointer that energized the crowd and the SMC bench, putting the Pioneers ahead 47-41 with 16:31 left to play. SMC held the lead until a three-point play by Hampton tied the game at 72 with 6:22 remaining.

The game continued to seesaw, with Murithi converting a layup at the 3:42 mark. Hampton then ignited the Bulldogs' comeback by knocking down his second 3-pointer of the afternoon with 2:44 to go.

Next up, SMC will close out its three-game homestand when it hosts Reinhardt on Saturday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.