SPARTANBURG, SC – In a nail-biting opener to the Spartanburg CAC Classic, the Washington Adventist University men's basketball team secured a dramatic 86-84 victory over Morris College on Friday, January 24, at Bridges Arena.

The Shock demonstrated their resilience in a back-and-forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats. WAU's offense was led by a stellar performance from Chase Cooke, who poured in 21 points while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out six assists. Felix McGhee chipped in with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arc, including a crucial three-pointer in the final minutes, to help seal the win.

Morris College came out strong in the first half, using their speed and perimeter shooting to take a narrow 42-41 lead into halftime. However, the Shock responded with an energetic second-half surge, tightening their defense and converting key opportunities at the free-throw line.

With under a minute remaining and the Shock down one point with six seconds left in the game, WAU's offense executed flawlessly, setting McGhee up to drain the game-winning three-pointer.

The Shock shot 44.4 percent (32-of-72) from the field, with seven of its makes coming from long range. Cooke led the Shock in scoring, finishing with 21 points, while Rande Harper followed with 16 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, and one steal to record a double-double.

Emanuel Hylton (15), McGhee (13), Jayden Rowe-Perry (8), Jaylin McNeil (8), and Jalen Anderson (5), also found the scoring column. Eight Shock players saw time on the floor.

The victory improves WAU's record 7-11 (3-1), as they continue to build momentum in the CAC Classic. The Shock will return to action on Saturday as they face the host Spartanburg Methodist on January 25 at 8:30 p.m.

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