Just three weeks ago, N.C. Wesleyan wasn’t the team it expected to be.

The Battling Bishops, picked to finish first in the USA South Conference, were 3-4 in league play, and the possibility of returning to the NCAA Tournament seemed like a long shot, at best.

That might have been the thoughts of observers outside of the Bishops’ locker room, but inside the walls of Everett Gymnasium, coach John Thompson’s squad kept a belief that things would change for the better because the 15-man roster would be pro-active in turning around the season.

The month of February has been good to N.C. Wesleyan, and after extending its season-long win streak to five games, the Bishops are in prime position for another run at a USA South title.

Domarius Thomas, Alex Murray and Matt Dougherty each scored in double figures Saturday afternoon to lead N.C. Wesleyan to an 82-60 victory against Ferrum.

The result gave N.C. Wesleyan the No. 2 seed entering this week’s USA South Conference Tournament. The Bishops will play host to No. 7 Shenandoah at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

“You don’t always develop as a group on the schedule you want, but our guys have shown great perseverance, great persistence and they’ve hung tough,” Thompson said. “They’ve stayed focused on our goals and playing for each other. We continue to get better. I’m really proud of where we are.”

Thomas, one of six seniors on the squad honored before tip-off, scored a game-high 22 points, while Murray added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting, including a number of highlight-reel dunks. Dougherty was an efficient 5-of-8 from the floor for 12 points as the Bishops used a 15-0 first-half run to open a permanent lead.

N.C. Wesleyan (14-10, 8-4 USAS) extended a 35-27 halftime lead rather quickly. The Bishops shot 55 percent from the floor in the second half, and their active 2-3 zone forced Ferrum into 16 turnovers and a 36 percent shooting percentage in a game that was in contrast from the Panthers’ 83-79 victory against the Bishops on Jan. 25.

That was N.C. Wesleyan’s last defeat.

“We came into the season, we were ranked, and I think we were a tad bit complacent,” Murray said. “You could see it in our play. We didn’t play as hungry. We were 3-4, and we worked hard to get it to 8-4. We have a lot of momentum. We’re in a great position.”

N.C. Wesleyan has another shot to show how it will handle success. It will play on its homecourt the first two games of the USA South Tournament, and a possible title game looms in a week at top-seeded Christopher Newport.

The character Thompson and his players felt in the locker room during that 3-4 valley has now contributed to a peak in play and confidence.

“I don’t think we’re done, we still haven’t peaked yet,” Dougherty said. “I think we’re getting better, taking it day-by-day to reach our goal of making it to the tournament.”

MEN

N.C. Wesleyan 82
Ferrum 60
F    27    33    –    60
NCWC    35    47    –    82
F: Marcus Mayo (13 points); Shon Goode (12 points); Nick English (10 points); Lamont King (8 points); Daryl Hart (6 points); Donte Thomas (3 points); Alton Whitby (3 points); T.J. Parker (3 points); Jamal Pullen (2 points)
NCWC: Domarius Thomas (22 points); Alex Murray (16 points); Matt Dougherty (12 points); Justin Griffith (8 points); Devin Nichols (6 points); Cornelius Snow (5 points); Josh Morrison (4 points); Julian Martin (4 points); Ric Yarbrough (3 points); Isaac Daniel (2 points).

WOMEN
N.C. Wesleyan 73
Ferrum 69
F    31    38    –    69
NCWC    31    42    –    73
F: Kristen Keith (23 points); Tesia Akers (15 points); Katy Kipps (11 points); Kylen Culler (7 points); Boreika Burwell (4 points); Shea Smith (4 points); Jacole Hairston (4 points); Kayla Goins (1 point).
NCWC: Samantha Urquhart (14 points); Tiffany Bell (14 points); A’leisha Henderson (12 points); Monet Edwards (12 points); Derreon Cole (10 points); Shanice Goree (5 points); Leann Breeden (2 points); NeTaih Davis (2 points); Shelby Jackson (1 point); Kourtney Salisbury (1 point).

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9959 or jhnunery@rmtelegram.com.