Rocky Mount, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan men's basketball team opened the Roger Taylor Invitational in strong fashion Friday night, powering past Mid-Atlantic Christian 100–83 inside Everett Gymnasium. The win pushes the Bishops to 5–2 overall and marks its second straight 100-point performance at home.

Wesleyan controlled the tempo early, using a 12–2 run midway through the first half to create separation before taking a 44–31 lead into halftime. The Bishops stayed efficient and aggressive throughout the second half, outscoring the Mustangs 56–52 to secure the tournament-opening victory.

Wesleyan showcased a balanced offensive attack with four players scoring nineteen or more points. James Jones led the Bishops with 22 points, including four made threes, while also adding five rebounds and two steals. Nasir Johnson delivered another standout performance with 22 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, going 8-for-10 at the free-throw line. Rashod Smith posted twenty points, five rebounds, and four assists, and Ro'Mello Pegues added a strong 19-point, five-rebound effort off the bench.

The Bishops shot an even 50% from the floor and dominated the paint with 42 points. Wesleyan also took advantage of miscues, turning fourteen Mid-Atlantic turnovers into nineteen points while scoring 26 fast-break points. Defensively, the Bishops outrebounded the Mustangs 44–43 and matched their energy throughout a fast-paced contest.

Mid-Atlantic Christian was led by Janus Shepherd, who poured in a game-high 32 points on 10-of-16 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Stewart Clough added eighteen points and a game-high eleven rebounds, while Nikko Trafton recorded ten points off the bench. Despite shooting 50% in the second half, the Mustangs were unable to cut the margin below single digits down the stretch.