Rocky Mount, NC - The N.C. Wesleyan men's basketball team honored its seniors in style, pulling away late for an 80-72 win over Brevard on Saturday afternoon at Everett Gymnasium. With the victory, the Battling Bishops improved to 16-9 overall and 10-4 in USA South play, while the Tornados fell to 9-14 (6-8 USA South).

The Basics:
Score: N.C. Wesleyan 80, Brevard 72
Location/Venue: Rocky Mount, NC / Everett Gymnasium
Records: N.C. Wesleyan (16-9, 10-4 USA South), Brevard (12-11, 7-7 USA South)

Khalid Chavis-Hinds led all scorers with a career-high 29 points, adding eight rebounds, six assists, and a game-high five steals. He shot 9-of-19 from the field and converted 10-of-13 free throws, providing a steady presence in key moments. Omari Bolden contributed fifteen points off the bench, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, while James Jones added twelve points, including a crucial three-pointer that gave Wesleyan the lead for good.

"I just wanted to play for my teammates and fellow seniors who have put so much into this program," Chavis-Hinds said. "We fed off the energy from the crowd and kept fighting. We knew Brevard wasn't going to go away easily."

The game featured ten ties and nineteen lead changes. Brevard came out hot, hitting 63.6% of its shots in the first half and taking a 35-33 lead into the break. Jadon Carnes paced the Tornados with eighteen points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting performance, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. KK Horton added ten points, and Charlie Hester chipped in eight.

Despite struggling early and shooting just 32.4% in the opening half, the Bishops responded after halftime, connecting on 55.2% of their shots in the final twenty minutes. The improved shooting, coupled with aggressive rebounding, proved pivotal. Wesleyan outrebounded Brevard 40-24, including twenty offensive boards that led to 24 second-chance points, compared to just four for the Tornados. Ky'ron Kelly grabbed eight rebounds (six offensive) to go with his eight points, while the Bishops' bench provided a spark with a 27-20 scoring edge.

"Our effort on the glass was the difference," head coach John Thompson said. "We weren't shooting well early, but we talked at halftime about crashing the boards. Credit to our guys for responding and outworking them down the stretch."

After Jones' go-ahead three-pointer made it 68-66 with under five minutes to play, Wesleyan closed on a 12-6 run. Chavis-Hinds scored seven points in the final three minutes, including key free throws that sealed the victory.

Brevard shot 52.9% from the field and hit 91.7% of its free throws but struggled from deep in the second half, making just 3-of-10 attempts after a strong start. Wesleyan's defense tightened late, forcing crucial turnovers and limiting clean looks down the stretch.

Up Next:
Men's basketball will look to carry its momentum into the USA South Tournament, which begins next week.