In a matchup between Philander Smith (AR) and Dillard on December 2, 2023, Dillard came out on top with a final score of 71-66.
The game started with Dillard taking an early lead in the first half, outscoring Philander Smith 36-28. However, Philander Smith fought back in the second half, scoring 38 points compared to Dillard's 35. Despite their efforts, Philander Smith fell short, unable to overcome the deficit.
Xavier Alexander was the leading scorer for Philander Smith, contributing 11 points. He was followed closely by Amorey Womack, who also scored 11 points. Jordan Thomas struggled to find his rhythm, going 0-4 from the field and failing to score any points.
On the other side, Tory Cargo led the scoring for Dillard with 22 points. He was supported by Tyrus Crawford, who scored 7 points. Dwight Felton had his first action of the season and made a major impact off the bench, scoring 11 points and dishing 3 assists.
Overall, both teams had a similar shooting percentage, with Philander Smith shooting 41.8% from the field and Dillard shooting 43.9%. However, Dillard had a slight advantage from beyond the arc, shooting 34.8%.
Despite the loss, Philander Smith showed resilience and fought until the end. Dillard will look to get back on track as they get a week off to prepare for the University of the Virgin Islands. That will be the third conference match-up against one of the newest members of the GCAC.
