Rocky Mount, NC - The N.C. Wesleyan men's basketball team battled #5 Christopher Newport in a high-energy, back-and-forth contest in the Roger Taylor Invitational. Despite an early double-digit lead, the Bishops ultimately fell 85-77, but showed immense heart and resilience against a nationally-ranked opponent.

The Basics:
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 77, #5 Christopher Newport 85
Location/Venue: Rocky Mount, NC / Everett Gymnasium
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (1-1, 0-0 USA South), #5 Christopher Newport (2-0, 0-0 C2C)

Wesleyan came out of the gate fast, building a quick double-digit lead in the opening minutes. A key part of the early surge was the play of senior guard Marquis Eskew, who had a performance of a lifetime, finishing with a team-high 27 points. Eskew was nearly unstoppable driving to the basket, using his quickness and skill to get to the rim and finish in traffic with ease. The Fayetteville, NC, native's scoring kept the Bishops in the game and forced the Captains to adjust defensively throughout the contest.

Forward Justin Burden also played a key role for the Bishops, scoring sixteen points and grabbing four rebounds. The sophomore showcased his versatility, hitting shots from the outside and scoring inside. Burden was efficient at the free-throw line, going a perfect 3-3, and finished 6-17 from the floor, providing another steady scoring option for Wesleyan.

As the game progressed, Christopher Newport showcased its talent. After initially falling behind, the Captains rebounded with a balanced offensive attack, shooting 49.2 percent from the field and capitalizing on free throws, converting 17 of 27 attempts from the charity stripe. Despite the Bishops staying competitive throughout, Christopher Newport's resiliency proved too much in the second half, as Wesleyan could never cut it to a single possession game.

Up Next:

Men's basketball will travel to #17 Guilford on Wednesday night for a 7:00 PM tip-off, followed by another trip to Guilford county to take on Division I UNC Greensboro on Saturday.