The Dillon Wildcats traveled to Rowland, North Carolina, on Tuesday night for a 73-54 win over the South Robeson Mustangs as they opened the boys varsity basketball season.

The Wildcats took a 10-7 lead in the first quarter and edged South Robeson 19-18 to carry a 29-25 lead into the half. Both teams poured on the points in the third quarter with the Wildcats outscoring the Mustangs 36-20 for a 65-45 lead. The Mustangs added nine points in the fourth but it wasn’t enough to close the gap as Dillon added eight points for the 73-54 win.

The Wildcats were led by Lawrence Crouch with 19 points and JaQuan Knowlin with 16. Joe Manning added 15 points; Eri’Reon Hayes, 6; Rakeem Fletcher, 5; Darius Bethea, 4; Avery McCall, 2; McCam, 2; Khary White, 2; and Gerome McLeod, 2.

South Robeson was led by A. Miller with 14 points and J. Strickland with 13. Rocklier added nine; Whirley, 6; Hunt, 6; Clark, 5; Leach, 2; Smith, 2; and McAllum, 2.

The Wildcats open the season with a 1-0 record.

Dillon finished with a 17-8 record last season, falling 68-66 to Lake City in the first round of the playoffs. Newberry went on to claim the state title in 2014, but the Bulldogs weren’t ranked in the top 10 in the preseason polls. Keenan, Chesnee, Lake Marion, Battery Creek, and Mullins made up the top five.

Dillon is returning several key players including Knowlin, who averaged over 13 points per game last season, Manning, Crouch, and Hayes. Head Coach Harold Wilson is also returning for his 17th season and will be looking to improve on his 251-134 record.

The Wildcats will be back in action at Marlboro County on Monday, December 8, at 6:00 p.m.