Rocky Mount, NC - An electrifying finish capped off the 35th annual Roger Taylor Invitational as guard  Deejayy Cox made a driving layup as time expired to lift the Battling Bishops past Newport News Apprentice 72-71 in overtime. Trailing most of the game and down as much as nine with 10:34 remaining in the second half, Wesleyan would force eight lead changes on nearly fifteen second chance points during the second period of play to send the game to an extra five minutes of action. Along with hitting the buzzer beater in overtime, Cox finished the game as Wesleyan's leading scorer with fourteen points and six rebounds. 

Score: North Carolina Wesleyan 72, Newport News Apprentice 71
Location/Venue: Rocky Mount, NC / Everett Gymnasium
Records: North Carolina Wesleyan (3-3, 0-0 USA South), Newport News Apprentice (1-4)

Coming off a career high, All-Classic Team selection Kyron Kelly posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, shooting nearly 50% from the field. Kelly's length would also affect the game on the defensive end of the floor, swatting three Builder shots, leading to run-out buckets at the other end. Collectively, Wesleyan would play lockdown defense in the second half, holding the Builders to only four second chance points while forcing fifteen turnovers. 

Jalen Mattocks continued his outstanding weekend, scoring seven times on eight rebounds, as Wesleyan would come down with a season high of 50 boards for the evening.

Up Next:

• The men's basketball team will hit the road to New York City this week as they face off with Medgar Evers on Friday and Lehman College on Saturday.