ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Averett University men's basketball opened USA South Conference play with a 78-54 road victory against N.C. Wesleyan College on Tuesday night.

Averett (4-2, 1-0 USA South) put together one of its best performances of the young season, shooing a season-high 50.9 percent from the field. The Cougars matched their season-high with nine made 3-pointers — including five by sophomore Isaiah Jones, who led the Cougars with 24 points to finish one point shy of his career high.

The Cougars led N.C. Wesleyan (0-4, 0-1 USA South) by 15 at halftime. The Battling Bishops got within 12 a little less than six minutes into the second period before Averett's 11-0 run gave the Cougars a 65-42 advantage with 10:27 remaining. Averett's lead reached as much as 27 points late on freshman Jeff Jackson's steal and alley oop dunk in transition from junior Bryson Davis, which served as an exclamation point on the victory.

The win was Averett's third in a row against N.C. Wesleyan.

Averett opened the game with a 3-pointer by Jones, which set the tone for the Cougars in the first period. Jones' second 3-pointer of the game gave the Cougars a 13-7 advantage a little over six minutes in. Paced by Jones' 14 points and junior Montre' Cash's 12 points in the first period, Averett extended its lead to double-figures midway through the half, growing it to as much as 17 points late before N.C. Wesleyan trimmed it to 43-28 at the break.

Jones scored his 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-8 beyond the arc. Cash finished with 1 points, while seniors Timothy Henry and Moriba Diaby each had eight points. Henry grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

Ricardo Bullock led N.C. Wesleyan with 11 points. Averett's defense limited the Bishops to under 34 percent shooting from the floor and only 3-for-17 from 3-point range.

Averett returns home for the start of a six-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 1, against Roanoke College.