Ray Victor and Halstead “JR” Chiverton continue to spur their team, the Warner University Royals, up the Sunshine Conference standings but not even the dynamic duo could stop the Royals going down 68-64 to cross Town Rivals Webber on Saturday January 26, 2013. Photo: Supplied

Victor was on court for 30 minutes as the Royals saw a slender 4-point half time lead disappear in the second period of play. He finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 3 steals. Chiverton finished his 11 minutes court time with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.

Next up for the Royals is a conference match up against Johnson and Wales University on Wednesday night.

Things had gone so much better for the Royals the previous Wednesday when Victor and Chiverton turned on the style in a packed Turner Athletic Center to beat the Fire out of Southeastern University (Fla.) 86-72 in a Sun Conference match.

The Royals avenged a loss earlier in the season, where Southeastern held on late to beat Warner 68-63.

With six ties and two lead changes, the first half action was back and forth. Warner shot relatively well from the field, going 11-for-24; their 45.8% was just better than the visitor’s 44.8%. Southeastern, however, carried a slight advantage, 35-33, into the break.

Judging by most of their performances so far this season, it would be safe to say that the Royals are definitely a second half team. That showed again against the Fire as Warner’s offense exploded in the second half for 53 points. Two double-digit point runs helped the Royals pull away in the second half, in large part to the hot shooting of Victor. Victor finished the game as Warner’s leading scorer with 23 points, while nabbing eight rebounds.