Beacon Topples ABAC 74–65

LEESBURG, Fla. — Beacon College used a strong first half and efficient production from its front line to overcome Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College 74–65 on Monday night.

Beacon (6-7), which built a 43–28 lead by halftime, held onto its advantage throughout the second half, with the Stallions unable to muster a comeback.

Center Ernesto Hichez led Beacon with a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds. Forward Javeon Wells‑Reddick added 18 points, while guard Tony Wade contributed 13.

For ABAC, guard Tommie Hall scored 19 points and forward Matthew Mairena posted 16.

Beacon travels to Miami to face United International College in the Citrus Classic on Saturday.

Image courtesy Beacon Athletics

Southeast Holds Off Millennia for First Conference Win

LEESBURG, Fla. – Freshman Ronal Rodman hit two free throws with less than 10 seconds to play to clinch the win for Southeast Christian, 78-75, over Millennia Atlantic Saturday night.

Southeast (7-4 overall, 1-4 NSAC) led by as many as 14 points but had to hold off a late rally by the Macaws to secure the win.

Sophomore forward Karlton Walton led the Eagles with 18 points, while Lomar Sparrow added 17, Jermarien Williams had 13, and Julius Nelson contributed 11 in the balanced scoring attack. was led by

Millennia (6-5, 1-4) was led by guard Tyus Wilson with a game-high 22 points.

Both teams are off until next Friday when they will compete on the opening day of the Citrus Classic in Miami. MAU will face URBE University in an NSAC contest while Southeast Christian will meet South Florida Tech outside of conference play.

Image courtesy Southeast Christian Athletics

Mustangs, Builders Split Series at Roger Taylor Invitational

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Tyus Williams poured in a game-high 30 points to lift Mid-Atlantic Christian University to an 85-82 victory over Greensboro College on Saturday in a back-and-forth battle that featured 10 ties and nine lead changes at the Roger Taylor Invitational.

Williams, a senior forward, was unstoppable from beyond the arc, hitting 4 of 6 three-pointers while adding five rebounds and two assists. His layup with 47 seconds remaining gave Mid-Atlantic Christian an 83-82 lead it would not relinquish.

“We knew it would come down to execution in the clutch,” said Mid-Atlantic Christian coach Charles Sims. “Tyus stepped up huge. We capitalized on their mistakes.”

The Mustangs also drained 9 of 16 three-pointers (56.3%) and leaned on 20 bench points to build a 44-43 halftime edge. Janus Shepherd chipped in 11 points and three assists for the Mustangs, while Clough nearly posted a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds.

In Friday’s game, MACU got a game-high 32 points from Janus Shepherd but fell to host NC Wesleyan 100-83.

In Friday’s opener, fellow New South member Apprentice School’s Shamon Rosser erupted for 20 of his 24 points in the second half, powering the Builders to a stunning 84-77 comeback victory over Greensboro.

Rosser, a guard/forward, was nearly perfect from the field (6-for-7) and solid from the free-throw line (11-for-17), adding eight rebounds and two steals to help Apprentice erase a 35-21 halftime deficit. The Builders outscored the Pride 63-42 after the break, shooting an eye-popping 74.1% from the field in the second half.

On Saturday, Apprentice struggled against NC Wesleyan, falling 66-51. Builder sophomore forward Jahlil Hope tied for leading scorer with 14 points.

Image courtesy Carl Lewis

Lighthouse Overwhelms Westgate 98–73 with Dominant First Half

HOUSTON — Lighthouse Christian College exploded for 50 first-half points and never looked back, rolling to a 98–73 New South conference win over Westgate Christian University on Saturday afternoon.

Lighthouse (8-1 overall, 1-0 NSAC) used suffocating defense and overwhelming rebounding to build a 27-point halftime lead. The Makos controlled the glass 61–53 and forced 19 turnovers while giving the Ravens few second-chance opportunities.

Senior guard Eddie Brown led Lighthouse with 16 points, hitting seven of 17 shots and adding six assists. Brent Royal added 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and Brandon Royal also scored 15 while grabbing seven rebounds. Marcus White posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Lighthouse closed the game with 22 assists and 16 steals, turning defensive pressure into transition scoring to seal the road victory.

Westgate (2-8, 0-4) found more rhythm after the break, scoring 50 second-half points, but the early deficit proved too steep. The Ravens shot just 31 of 94 (32.9 %) from the field and 5 of 33 (15.1 %) from beyond the arc.

Mustangs Dispose of Wolves 83-68

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Mid-Atlantic Christian University dominated Cheyney University 83–68 on Wednesday night, using a balanced scoring effort and a dominant first half to secure the nonconference win.

MACU (3-4) built a 44–30 halftime lead behind efficient shooting, then held off the Wolves despite a stronger second-half push from Cheyney. Andre Bowles led the Mustangs with 16 points while Janus Shepherd, Stewart Clough and Tyus Williams each added 12. MACU shot 52.5% from the field and finished 17 of 26 from the free-throw line.

“Our guys needed the Thanksgiving break,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “We came back ready to play for each other.”

Cheyney was paced by Gabriel Altemus, who scored 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting including 4-of-7 from three. The Wolves shot just 31.5% from the field and were 8 of 30 from beyond the arc.

MACU held a 48-40 rebounding advantage and led by as many as 23 points. Cheyney closed the gap to 14 in the second half but never threatened the lead.

The Mustangs return to action Friday night facing NC Wesleyan in the Bishops’ Roger Taylor Invitational at Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Apprentice also participates in the event Friday facing Greensboro College before switching opponents on Saturday.

Image courtesy MACU Athletics

Beacon Edges Millenia Atlantic 70–67 behind Hichez’s Double-Double

DAVIE, Fla. — Ernesto Hichez poured in 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Beacon held off Millenia Atlantic 70–67 in NSAC men’s basketball on Saturday afternoon at the David Posnack JCC.

Beacon (4–6 overall, 3-2 NSAC) shot 56% from the field and dominated the paint, outscoring the Macaws 60–30 inside. Hichez went 13 of 20 from the floor and added nine assists in a standout all-around performance.

Tony Wade finished with 12 points and four assists, while Noah Wilhelm added 11 points and six rebounds. Tre’von Redd scored nine of his 10 points in the second half as the Blazers built a 14-point lead with 8:39 remaining.

Millenia Atlantic (6-3, 1-2) rallied late behind Tyus Wilson, who scored a team-high 23 points, including a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 64–57 with just over five minutes left.

Beacon survived despite committing 13 turnovers and going just 1 of 8 from beyond the arc.

Millenia Atlantic had two shots to tie in the closing seconds, but both 3-point attempts missed.

Image courtesy Beacon Athletics

Westgate Shades St. Thomas 84-77

HOUSTON – Westgate Christian placed six players in double figures in defeating the St. Thomas (TX) JVs 84-77 Tuesday night.

Westgate (2-3) was led by Chase Crawford’s 15 points, followed by Kalil Pestaina with 13 and Tre Clements with 12. Jaylon Chappelle came off the bench with 11. Arnold McGowan led the Ravens on the boards with eight rebounds, and Tedarius Wade handed out seven assists.

WCU now takes a break for Turkey Day before hosting Lighthouse Christian for the first NSAC game of the season for both squads on December 6.

Image courtesy Westgate Athletics

Beacon Rides Balanced Scoring, Late Surge to top Millennia Atlantic 82–73

LEESBURG, Fl. — Noah Wilhelm scored 20 points and Beacon used a late second-half push to pull away from Millennia Atlantic for an 82–73 win on Saturday afternoon.

Wilhelm knocked down five 3-pointers and went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line as the Blazers outscored the Macaws 44–41 after halftime to secure the win. Javeon Wells-Reddick added 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Ernesto Hichez dominated inside with 13 points and a game-high 18 boards.

“I think we’ve started to play for each other,” said Beacon head coach Pat Burke. “We’re still working out some early season ‘coming together.'”

MAU was led by Tyus Wilson, who scored 22 points on 11-of-19 shooting.

Beacon shot 21 of 30 at the free-throw line and held a narrow 39–38 rebounding edge. Millenia Atlantic trailed 38–32 at halftime and briefly closed within one possession before the Blazers responded behind Wilhelm’s outside shooting and Hichez’s work on the glass.

With the win, BC improves to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in the NSAC, while MAU drops to 6-2 and 1-1, respectively.

Image courtesy Beacon Athletics

Atlantis Takes 2 of 3 on New York Swing

Atlantis entered the weekend as one of the top teams in USCAA men’s basketball and showed why in winning two of three games in New York state.

The Atlanteans opened the barnstorming tour with a 69-61 win at Bryant & Stratton-Rochester on Friday.

On Saturday, Artem Sorokin put on a scoring clinic, shooting 7-for-9 from the field including 5-for-7 from 3-point range to tally a team-high 21 points, in leading AU to a resounding 80-54 win at Villa Maria.

However, the trip ended on a sour note Sunday as Atlantis fell to a red-hot Bryant & Stratton-Buffalo 88-49.

Atlantis improved overall to 7-3 and now awaits NSAC foe Millennia Atlantic on December 5.

Image courtesy Mark Jagord and Villa Maria Athletics