CENTRAL, S.C. – The Southern Polytechnic State University men's basketball squad ended its 2013-14 regular season on Saturday with a 71-65 Southern States Athletic Conference Eastern Division loss to the host Southern Wesleyan University Warriors at Tysinger Gymnasium.

Southern Polytechnic raced out to a quick 18-7 lead and was on top until Southern Wesleyan took its first advantage at 28-27 with 3:47 left in the opening half. A 31-12 spurt by the Warriors put them up 38-30 and they led 38-32 at halftime. SWU never trailed in the second half but its biggest advantage was just seven points, the last time at 63-56 with 5:43 to go. Southern Poly twice sliced its deficit to only two points, the final time at 67-65 with a minute remaining, but Southern Wesleyan was able to hold on for the win.

The Hornets shot 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor, including 22.2 percent (2-of-9) from three-point range while the Warriors finished at 43.3 percent (29-of-67) and 35.7 percent (5-of-14), respectively. At the foul line, SWU was a perfect 8-of-8 while SPSU made 17-of-32 (53.1 percent). Southern Poly outrebounded the hosts 38-35 but was guilty of 16 turnovers to Southern Wesleyan's eight.

Leading the Hornets was Kevin Phillip, who had a game-high 21 points to go along with season bests of 12 rebounds and six blocked shots. Marcus Dortch tossed in 13 points while Chris Key scored 10 and pulled down eight boards. CJ McElrath was credited with 10 points and five rebounds.

SPSU is 13-17 overall and ended 7-11 in the SSAC, tying for fourth place in the Eastern Division, while the Warriors are 16-13 and finished 10-8 in conference play, tying for second in the East. Southern Poly, the No. 4 seed from the East, plays an SSAC Tournament first-round contest on Wednesday at 3:45 p.m. Central time (4:45 p.m. Eastern) against the University of Mobile Rams, the fifth seed out of the West, in Montgomery, Ala.