RALEIGH, N.C. - The Brevard College men's basketball team (9-16, 5-9 USAS) dropped its regular-season finale 80-67 to host William Peace University (16-8, 11-3 USAS) on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, North Carolina. Brevard advances to the USA South Conference Championship Tournament where the Tornados will play at Pfeiffer University in first-round action on Tuesday. The appearance will mark the second-consecutive season BC has reached the conference tournament.
Sophomore guard Kavan Horton led the Tornados with 18 points and seven rebounds. Horton, a native of Asheville, North Carolina, has scored in double-figures in nine of the last 13 games of the regular season. Both his points and rebounding totals on Saturday were just one shy of matching his career marks in those departments.
Senior Quincy Carter dished out a career-best nine assists. Junior Sly White posted 17 points with LB Boyette also scoring in double figures for BC with 11 points. Chancey Watson came off the bench to add seven points.
William Peace was led by Beau Bryant who recorded 27 points and Timothy Pettiford's 21 points. Bryant also pulled a game-high 10 rebounds.
Following the opening tip, Carter set up freshman Jadon Carnes to give BC its first score of the game. Carter then set up Horton for a layup which was followed by a three-pointer to put Brevard up 7-3.
WPU took back the lead with a 13-2 run to take a seven-point lead. A 3-pointer by White off a Boyette assist with 6:45 to play cut the deficit to 18-17. However, the Pacers responded with an 8-0 run which propelled the hosts to a 39-28 lead at the intermission
Four minutes into the second half, Horton hit a 3-pointer to bring the deficit to seven. A minute later, Horton followed with an "and-one" 3-pointer on a made layup to cut the Pacers' lead to 46-40.
WPU would start to pull away again however taking a 64-50 lead with seven minutes to play. Twice in the final minutes. BC cut the deficit to ten points but was unable to pull any closer as the Pacers sealed the win with free throws down the stretch.
William Peace outshot BC 46% to 42% from the field. The Pacers made seven 3-pointers compared to just four by the Tornados. The free throw line was impactful with WPU going 21-of-26 from the line compared to 11-of-15 at the stripe for Brevard.
Brevard will play at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina on Tuesday in the First Round of the USA South Men's Basketball Championship tournament. Stay tuned to www.bctornados.com and www.usasouth.net for more information.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, and 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College events
-BC-