MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The Chowan Men's Basketball team started off the season with a win over NAIA West Virginia Tech, 93-88, behind a double-double performance by Tahkey Williams.
THE BASICS
FINAL | Chowan 93, West Virginia Tech 88
RECORDS | Chowan 1-0, West Virginia Tech 2-2
LOCATION | Murfreesboro, N.C. (Helms Center)
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
Tahkey Williams posted his first double-double of the season with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Williams would go 8-9 from the floor and 5-5 from deep. Ja'Darien Wade who averaged 23.5 points in his two games last season before injury added 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.
Xavier Young and Brandon Mayhan were in double-figures with 16 and 11 respectively. Jaylen Dilliard and BJ McLaurin chipped in with nine points. McLaurin added 10 rebounds as well.
Chowan shot 57.9% from behind the arc in the contest and 50.0% from the floor.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half:
Tahkey Williams started the scoring for the Hawks with a layup on a putback. Brandon Mayhan traded a three-ball with WVU Tech to even the score at 6-all.
The Golden Bears would take a 15-11 lead as Ja'Darien Wade and Jaylen Dilliard added two points in the stretch. BJ McLaurin started a rally to put the Hawks back on top with a layup before Tahkey Williams drained a three pointer. Williams would add a three-point play to keep the Hawks on top, 19-15.
The two teams would trade baskets as WVU Tech evened the score at 23-all with 8:26 remaining in the half. WVU Tech would take a 27-25 lead, but Tahkey Williams knocked down a triple to give the Hawks the lead back. Ja'Darien Wade added a jumper before the Golden Bears knotted the score again at 30-all.
Xavier Young knocked down back-to-back triples to push the lead to 37-30. Tahkey Williams connected from deep after a WVU Tech bucket. The Golden Bears added a pair of free throws before the end of the half.
Chowan led 40-34 at the half.
Second Half:
Chowan would see their largest lead of the contest as Ja'Darien Wade started the half with a layup. Xavier Young added a three-pointer to push the lead to eight, 45-37.
WVU Tech continued to claw back into the contest as the Golden Bears trimmed the deficit to three with a three pointer. Tahkey Williams hit a three pointer and Brandon Mayhan added a jumper in transition to push the lead back to seven, 54-47.
A 6-0 run by the Hawks sparked by Jaylen Dilliard's free throws, a Ja'Darien Wade layup, and a three-pointer by Brandon Mayhan saw the lead swell to 12, 64-54, with 12:34 remaining.
Chowan would maintain a sizeable lead as BJ McLaurin completed the three-point play. WVU Tech went on an 8-1 lead to cut the lead to two, 72-70, before McLaurin hit a layup and Tahkey Williams dialed another one up from deep to push the lead back to seven, 77-70.
WVU Tech would not go away down the stretch cutting into the lead but was unable to tie or take the lead. Ja'Darien wade connected from the floor and the stripe to keep to maintain the lead.
Chowan would ice the contest at the stripe with makes by Tahkey Williams and Ja'Darien Wade.
UP NEXT
Chowan will hit the road to take on cross-town rival, Elizabeth City State, on Thursday, November 14. Tip-off is slated for 7:30pm.
