PETERSBURG, Va. – For the first time since the 2002-03 season, the Apprentice School men’s basketball team cut down the nets at the USCAA Small College National Championship with a 73-68 win over Lyon Wednesday afternoon.

Donovan Means was named Tournament MVP after leading the team with 19 points. Adrion Wall and Karree Smith were also named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing with 15 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Avin Hawkins added 15 off the bench.

The Scots and Builders were in a battle from the opening tip with Apprentice trailing for a majority of the first half, but with the final five points of the first half, the Builders took a 33-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Apprentice, the back-to-back NSAC champion, extended their lead to seven early in the second half, but the Scots hit big shots, going on a 7-0 run to tie the game up at 43-43. From there, the lead switched hands multiple times before the game settled in with the Builders holding a small margin. Lyon cut the lead down to two late, but three free throws down the stretch, coupled with defensive stops, put the Builders on the ladder to cut down the nets and hoist the national championship trophy.

It’s the third national championship for the Builders’ basketball program in school history and the first since going back-to-back in the 2001-02 and 02-03 seasons.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics