MISENHEIMER — The Pfeiffer Falcons men’s basketball team returned to the court on Dec. 17 after a three-week break but was unable to snap out of a losing streak that is now up to five games following an 85-76 loss to Lynchburg.
The Falcons (2-6) have not won a game since a 77-70 road victory over Colby-Sawyer back on Nov. 12. Pfeiffer’s nonconference schedule will close Jan. 5 when Mid-Atlantic Christian travels to Merner Gym in Misenheimer.
From there, fifth-year coach Pete Schoch and his Falcons will open USA South Athletic Conference play with four games in eight days — two on the road followed by two at home — as they look to improve after a difficult start to the season.
Pfeiffer is set to travel to N.C. Wesleyan (Jan. 7) and Brevard (Jan. 10) before coming home for matchups with Mary Baldwin (Jan. 13) and Southern Virginia (Jan. 14).
Sophomore guard Daymon Beckwith has emerged as a key player in his second year on the roster, posting a team-high 14 points per game with a 49% shooting rate from behind the arc. Freshman guard Rashamel Butler has been effective in his first season in Misenheimer with a team-best 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals.
The Falcons have a different look compared to last year’s squad that finished with a 12-11 record (9-5 USA South) with more than half of the roster made up of freshmen.
The most veteran player is fifth-year guard and Oakboro native Taylan Rowe, a former West Stanly star, who is averaging a team-high 30.4 minutes along with 9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Rowe was a key part of the Falcons’ 2020-21 season that included a USA South East Division Tournament appearance in which he scored 19 points in a championship win over Averett.
Despite a slow start to the season, Pfeiffer has an opportunity to put its nonconference losses in the background and prepare for the rest of the schedule of its sixth season as a USA South member. Averaging just 75.8 points a game, the Falcons will look to show more offensive firepower as they face their conference opponents.