Hattiesburg, Miss. – Head Coach Steve Knight picked up his 800^th career win, as the Crusaders defeated Southeastern Baptist 123-72 Monday night at Clinton Gym.
 
"I thought overall we played hard and were able to create a lot of fast break opportunities," said Knight. "We shared the ball well and which led to shooting a high percentage from the floor. Happy for the guys and looking forward to getting back in the gym and preparing for a talented SUNO team on Thursday."
 
The opening five minutes saw both teams take turns with the lead. By the fifteen-minute mark though Carey made their move, draining nine three pointers with Jamar Jenkins accounting for five of those. It was all WCU from there leading 31-24 midway through before extending it to a commanding 65-43 lead by halftime.
 
Their performance was a masterclass in efficiency, with the team shooting an impressive 57.0% from the field and an even more remarkable 52.8% from three-point range for the game. This red-hot shooting was a team effort, with three Crusaders cracking the 20-point mark: Arzika Seibou (22 points), Jamar Jenkins (22 points), and Troy Dunn (21 points). Seibou was particularly effective, adding 6 rebounds to his scoring tally, showcasing his all-around contribution.
 
A significant factor in William Carey's dominance was their incredible bench play, which poured in an astounding 71 points. William Carey also asserted its superiority on the boards, outrebounding Southeastern Baptist 45-28, including 19 offensive rebounds which translated into 17 crucial second-chance points. Defensively, the Crusaders capitalized on Southeastern Baptist's struggles, forcing 23 turnovers and converting them into 41 points, demonstrating their ability to turn defense into immediate offense.
 
For Southeastern Baptist, the game proved to be an uphill battle from start to finish. Despite shooting a respectable 46.3% from the field, their offensive flow was constantly disrupted by turnovers. Key players like AJ Jones (17 points), Steven Black (13 points), EJ Collier (12 points), and JayLyn Blakney (9 points, 8 rebounds) attempted to carry the scoring load, but the team's 23 turnovers proved too costly, directly fueling William Carey's scoring runs. Their three-point shooting, at 26.3%, also failed to keep pace with the Crusaders' perimeter assault.
 
The stark contrast in performance was evident in the box score: William Carey's bench alone outscored Southeastern Baptist's entire team in the second half (58 points for WCU in 2nd half vs. 29 points for SBC in 2nd half). The Crusaders also dominated points in the paint, 48-30, further illustrating their ability to score effectively both inside and out.
 
The Crusaders are back in action Thursday, December 18, as they take on Southern University of New Orleans in non-conference action. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm at Clinton Gym.