ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - Host N.C. Wesleyan pulled away with a strong second half Saturday afternoon in a 97-79 USA South Conference men's basketball victory over Shenandoah.

The Bishops (5-8, 1-0 USA South) led by two points at the break and following a pair of lead changes, pulled away midway through the second over SU (4-10, 1-1).

After Shenandoah took a 43-41 lead on a Kevin Kline jumper at the 17:31 mark, NCWC took a lead it would not relinquish as Trey Drake scored the next six points of the ballgame.

On the ensuing possession following Kline's jumper, Drake drained a 3-pointer to give the hosts a 44-43 advantage.  A traditional three-point play followed 13 seconds after the shot from behind the arc, and the Bishops were off and running.

The Hornets would briefly keep the deficit to within one possession for the next two minutes before another NC Wesleyan run, this one 12-1 over a span of 3:10, effectively sealed the game for the hosts.

The Bishops maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way and eventually pushed the lead out to 21-points as they made 9 of their last 11 from the charity stripe.

Shenandoah, which has struggled from the line all season long, was a season-best 27 of 31 (87.1 percent) from the line with Kline, Mitch Dudley and Kenny Robertson all converting at least six free throws.

Kline led the visitors with 27 points; he was 10 for 11 from the field and 7 of 9 from the line. Robertson added 17 and Dudley 12 to round out the Hornets double-digit scorers.

Drake, with 24, paced a group of five NCWC players with at least 10 points. Alex Murray had 10 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for the victors. Wesleyan shot 48.4 percent (31 of 64) from the field for the game.

SU is back in action Tuesday night in its final non-conference game of the season. The Hornets travel to Southern Virginia for a 7 p.m. tip-off.

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