DENMARK, S.C. (Oct. 30, 2026) – The Voorhees University men's basketball team opened its 2026–27 campaign with a hard-fought 80-74 setback against Truett McConnell University on Friday evening inside the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center.
Despite the loss, the Tigers displayed determination and offensive efficiency, battling back from a double-digit second-half deficit to keep the contest within reach down the stretch.
Ry'Darius Hill led the Tigers with a team-high 17 points, shooting a perfect 6-for-6 from the field while adding four free throws. Senior
Syris Williams provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 16 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Timothy Smith also reached double figures with 10 points, including two three-pointers.
Voorhees (0-1) started the contest with energy, building a seven-point advantage midway through the opening half. The Tigers led 25-18 before Truett McConnell responded with a scoring surge to take a 40-35 advantage into halftime.
The Bears carried that momentum into the second half, extending their lead to as many as 13 points at 52-39 with 14:34 remaining.
However, the Tigers refused to go away.
Behind the offensive contributions of Hill, Williams and Smith, Voorhees steadily chipped away at the deficit. A three-pointer from Williams with 6:38 remaining brought the Tigers within two points at 63-61, energizing the home crowd and setting the stage for a competitive finish.
Truett McConnell answered with timely baskets and free throws to maintain its advantage, but Voorhees continued to battle. Hill converted a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 75-72.
The Bears ultimately sealed the victory at the free-throw line, handing Voorhees its first loss of the young season.
Tigers Show Offensive Promise
Despite the outcome, Voorhees demonstrated several encouraging signs offensively in its season debut.
The Tigers shot an impressive 53.8 percent from the field (28-of-52) and connected on 47.1 percent of their three-point attempts (8-of-17).
Voorhees was particularly effective after halftime, shooting 60 percent from the floor (15-of-25) while scoring 39 second-half points.
The Tigers also received a significant boost from their reserves, who combined for 46 points, highlighting the team's offensive depth.
Along with the three double-digit scorers,
Thierry Ngo contributed nine points and three rebounds, while
Darius Elkins added six points.
Gabriel Wright finished with five points.
Truett McConnell (1-1) was led by Calvin Carter, who finished with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jadon Yeh added 15 points, while Preston Tuggle recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bears held a 36-18 advantage on the glass and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 20 second-chance points compared to seven for Voorhees.
Building Toward the Season Ahead
Although Friday's result was not the outcome the Tigers envisioned, the season opener provided valuable opportunities for growth as Head Coach Derrick Mitchell and his squad continue developing their chemistry and identity.
With multiple players contributing offensively, strong shooting percentages and a determined second-half effort, Voorhees showed encouraging signs as it begins the 2026–27 season.
The Tigers will look to build on those positives, improve their rebounding and continue developing consistency as the season progresses.
Follow Voorhees University Athletics at VoorheesAthletics.com for the latest men's basketball news, schedules and results.
Final Score: Truett McConnell 80, Voorhees 74
Records: Voorhees (0-1), Truett McConnell (1-1)
Location: Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center – Denmark, S.C.
Attendance: 125
Voorhees Leading Scorers
