PETERSBURG, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team is potentially just 40 minutes away from the first men’s basketball national title in more than two decades after knocking off Bryant & Stratton-Albany Tuesday afternoon 69-60.

The game was nip-and-tuck all the way through as the Bobcats held a one-point lead at halftime, 32-31. The Builders answered, however, going on an 8-0 run to take the lead, 42-38. Albany eventually brought the game back to a 55-55 tie, but the Builders never surrendered the lead again, scoring the next four points and then the final six of the day to clinch their spot in the national championship game.

Donovan Means led Apprentice with 17 points, while Adrion Wall had 14 points. Karree Smith put up 13 as well.

With the win, the Builders will play for the USCAA Division I National Championship tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Virginia State University’s Multipurpose Center against third-seeded Lyon. Tickets are still available at basketball.theuscaa.com, while a live stream and stats will be available as well.

Story and image courtesy Apprentice Athletics