Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia University men's basketball team took little time to shake off any rust from the holiday break to overwhelm Johnson & Wales en route to a 75-48 victory. The Knights cruise into the New Year on a five-game win streak.
The Wildcats came to play in the opening minutes, holding the Knights to just four points in five minutes. Off the bench, Kade Harrick gave Southern Virginia a lift when he was a part of two key three-pointers to cut the deficit to one. Tyler Kartcher also enjoyed a strong start, which included his 500th career point for the Knights.
With the final minute of the half approaching and the score tied at 26, DJ Green nailed a shot from beyond the arc to reclaim the lead. Luc DeVore converted on a layup in the paint before Eli Ballstaedt's steal and score off of the ensuing inbounds pass sent the Knights into the locker room ahead, 33-26.
With the momentum decisively in the hands of Southern Virginia, they never looked back. Tyler Kartchner was a monster in the paint as the lead eventually reached twenty points. He recorded his third double-double of the season and his first twenty-point game. Not to be overshadowed, Tillman Johnson also registered a double-double, adding 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Eli Ballstaedt was a ball hound all night, recording a game-high five steals, many of which turned into points. The Knights finished with a 19-9 advantage in points off turnovers. DJ Green was also good defensively while leading the team in assists with six.
In the closing seconds, freshman guard Henry Lambert found twine on a three-pointer for his first career points on his first career shot, putting an exclamation point on their fifth straight victory, 75-48.
As the team turns the page on the 2024 portion of their season, they say hello to USA South competition in 2025. They'll begin league play by traveling to Brevard, North Carolina, for their next contest on Saturday, January 2nd. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 PM.
For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.
