PETERSBURG, Va. – The No. 1 Apprentice School men’s basketball team earned their second straight USCAA semifinal appearance Sunday as they knocked off eighth-seeded Maine-Fort Kent, 96-79.

“We’re thankful to have pulled off the win and that we’re advancing to our second straight USCAA Final Four,” said head coach Evan Kee. “This was also win No. 23, which ties the record for most wins in school history. We had big performances from a number of guys, and we’re going to need continued production from the entire roster on Tuesday against Bryant & Stratton-Albany.”

The Builders and Bengals traded baskets early, but with the score in favor of Apprentice at 18-15, the Builders went on a 21-0 run to stretch the lead to 24. The lead ballooned to as many as 26, but the Bengals never went away, cutting it to as few as 14 with six minutes to play before the Builders put the game away.

Adrion Wall continued his stretch of hot play, finishing with a game-high 26 points. Kurij Harrell added 16 off the bench, while Karree Smith had 14. Donovan Means put up 11.

The NSAC champion Builders will take on B&S-Albany Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Virginia State University for a spot in the national championship game.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics