EMORY, Va. - Johnson C. Smith University men's basketball started the new year off with its final non conference game on the road falling to Emory & Henry, 87-69, on Friday afternoon.

The Golden Bulls were led by Trey Pettigrew, who scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting while adding six rebounds. Jamauri Bryant chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, and Jared Davis added nine points in 20 minutes. The Golden Bulls battled on the glass with 35 rebounds and scored 34 points in the paint, but struggled from the perimeter, finishing just 4-of-19 from three-point range.

Emory & Henry shot 50 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from beyond the arc. Isaac Hymes paced the Wasps with 15 points, while Melchior Hughes added 14 off the bench.  Emory & Henry also won the rebounding battle 47–35 and outscored JCSU 32–19 in bench points.

Up next the Golden Bulls will travel to Wilmington, Delaware to begin conference play with Lions of Lincoln University (Pa.) on Sunday at the Chase Fieldhouse.