PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern men's basketball team closed out the Southern States Athletic Conference opening weekend hosting William Carey on Saturday. The Firehawks fell to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in SSAC play with a 84-64 loss.
Two Firehawks marked the scorebook in double figures. Vito Vujovic led the Firehawks with 16 points and nine rebounds. Mark Vance added 15 points and six boards.
William Carey took the opening tip to create a 5-0 lead early. UTS would bounce back with big buckets from Vujovic and a triple from Mike Bell, Jr. to tie the game in the early going. The Crusaders would begin to extend their lead through the first quarter, but the Firehawks closed in to trail by three with 9:44 left. Heading to the half trailing by six, the Koby Isaac drained a 13 foot jumper to bring the Firehawks to within four. WCU closed out the hald with a 7-0 run to lead 39-28 at the break. UTS would shoot 11-28, 39%, in the opening segment including two of 10 from distance. Vujovic went four of six and added a pair of charity shots to net 10 first half points.
In the final half, shooting woes plagued the Firehawks as WCU outscored the home team 22-7 in the first six minutes. UTS hung tough but couldn't shave the lead to less than 19 down the stretch. Vance led the Firehawks with nine second half points while battling foul trouble. UTS shot 12 of 37, 32%, from the field draining five triples.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will hit the road and travel to Huntsville, Ala., to take on the Ambassadors of Oakwood on Tuesday, November 19. Tipoff is set for seven p.m.
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