Royals Pull Away in Second Half to Defeat Tennessee Wesleyan

The Royals turned in a complete performance on Saturday afternoon, using a strong second half to secure a 77–58 victory over Tennessee Wesleyan at Douglas E. Karnes Arena.

Johnson set the tone early, building a 37–24 advantage by halftime behind balanced scoring and steady defensive pressure. The Royals continued to control the tempo after the break, outscoring the Bulldogs 40–34 in the second half to pull away and seal the win.

Livingston Cross led the Royals with a game-high 20 points off the bench, shooting an efficient 9-of-11 from the floor while also contributing 10 rebounds and five assists. Ja'Kobe Strozier added 15 points and six rebounds, while Davon Cottle chipped in 12 points. Jahmar Brown finished with 10 points, and Mason Lockhart added eight points along with seven rebounds.

Johnson shot 43.1 percent from the field and went 18-of-24 at the free-throw line, capitalizing on opportunities throughout the game. Defensively, the Royals forced 24 Tennessee Wesleyan turnovers and limited the Bulldogs to just 58 points on the afternoon.

The Royals will return to Douglas E. Karnes Arena for their next matchup, hosting Bluefield in a home contest.