Raleigh, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan men's basketball team capped off a perfect opening weekend with an emphatic 85–61 victory over Bridgewater on Sunday afternoon inside Hermann Athletic Center to close out the William Peace Classic.

The Battling Bishops (2–0) were efficient on both ends of the floor, shooting 57% from the field and 67% from beyond the arc while holding Bridgewater (1–1) to just 41% overall and forcing eleven turnovers. Wesleyan never trailed in the contest and led by double digits for most of the afternoon.

Senior guard James Jones poured in a game-high 22 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three-point range. Nasir Johnson followed with fourteen points and five rebounds, while point guard Rashod Smith added thirteen points, seven assists, four steals, and three rebounds in another all-around performance. Justin Burden nearly posted a double-double with twelve points and eight rebounds, and Markquan Gilbert provided fourteen points off the bench, going 6-for-10 from the floor.

The Bishops jumped out to a 10–0 lead within the first four minutes and never looked back, taking a 44–32 advantage into halftime. Bridgewater briefly cut the margin to five early in the second half, but Wesleyan responded with a 12–4 run fueled by threes from Jones and Johnson to stretch the lead back to double digits. The Bishops maintained control the rest of the way, showcasing sharp ball movement and stifling defense to seal the 24-point win.

As a team, Wesleyan finished 21-of-25 (84%) from the free-throw line and held a 29–25 edge on the boards while outscoring Bridgewater 32–24 in the paint.

Up Next:
The Battling Bishops will open up its home slate at Everett Gymnasium on Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM against the Quakers of Guilford.