GREENWOOD, S.C. – Lacing up for the first game of the 2023-24 regular season, the Newberry College men's basketball team dropped a road contest to the Lander Bearcats on Sunday afternoon, 88-67.

Senior Jalen Johnson led the Wolves in both scoring and rebounding with 14 points and nine boards. Johnson shot 5 of 11 from the field and 4 of 9 from 3-point range in an efficient performance.

Junior Malik Joseph also made 5 of 11 shots, with two of those coming from beyond the perimeter to register 12 points for the Wolves to go along with a team-high four assists.

Devario Sheppard, Caleb Byrd and James Lovorn tallied nine points each, and Booker Cusaac had eight.

After falling behind 10-4 early in the game, Newberry was able to claw back and make it 10-8 after a pair of Cusaac buckets with 14 minutes left in the first half. Over the next 7 minutes, 30 seconds of game action, Lander extended that lead to 11, 25-14.

The Wolves trimmed the deficit to seven, 28-21, thanks to a five-point spurt from Sheppard with four minutes on the clock before going into the break down 35-26.

In the second half, Lander shot 69% from the floor and 75% from downtown to widen the gap.

For the game, the Wolves won the turnover battle 14-9, leading to a 13-8 edge in points off turnovers. Newberry also had 16 second-chance points to the Bearcats' 14 thanks to 12 offensive rebounds.

Newberry will play its first home game at Eleazer Arena this coming Wednesday (Nov. 15) against the Converse Valkyries. The game, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip, follows the Newberry women's basketball game against Francis Marion at 5.