Elizabeth City, NC – In a nail-biting finish, the Washington Adventist University (WAU) men's basketball team narrowly fell to Mid-Atlantic Christian University, 63-61, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, marking their third consecutive road loss to start the season. Despite a valiant effort and a strong second-half comeback, the Shock came up just short in the final moments.

The Mustangs were determined to put on a show for their home crowd from the start. Mid-Atlantic Christian jumped out to a 21-6 lead in the first eight minutes of the first half. WAU's Anthony Perry led the offense early on, hitting key shots to keep the Shock in the game. However, Mid-Atlantic Christian's defensive pressure allowed them to take a comfortable advantage going into halftime, leading 38-26.

In the second half, WAU ramped up their intensity, with Jalen Anderson, Chase Cooke, and Rande Harper making significant contributions to close the gap. The Shock's defense forced critical turnovers, which helped them take their first lead with eight minutes left in the game. In the game's closing seconds, the Mustangs tied the game with a made shot with 1:53 on the clock. WAU had a chance to tie or take the lead but was unable to convert on their final possession, allowing Mid-Atlantic Christian to secure the narrow 63-61 victory with two made free throws.

The Shock shot 39.6 percent (21-of-53) from the field, with six of its makes coming from long range. Cooke and Anderson led the Shock in scoring, finishing with 12 points, while Harper and Perry followed with 11 points.

Emanuel Hylton (4), Seth Wright (4), Julian King (4), and Jaylin McNeil (3) also found the scoring column. Ten Shock players saw time on the floor.

With this loss, WAU's season record stands at 0-3. The Shock will look to bounce back in their upcoming road challenge in the Bryant & Stratton Buffalo Classic in Buffalo, NY, where they hope to turn things around and secure their first win of the season.

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