Category: Beacon

Top Seeds Apprentice and URBE Move on to Championship Game

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The seeds held in Saturday’s NSAC Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinals.

In the first game, 2nd-seed Apprentice used a strong second half to pull away from 3rd seed Atlantis University for a 68-57 victory.

Jabari Brackett and Jahlil Hope each scored 14 points to lead the Builders, who shot 51.9% after halftime and outscored the Atlanteans 37-28 over the final 20 minutes. Devon Brown added 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Shamon Rosser chipped in 10 points off the bench.

Atlantis led briefly in the first half and shot 50% before the break but cooled to 29% in the second half. Nikko Landon paced the visitors with 15 points, while Santiago Insaurralde scored 16 off the bench before reinjuring the ankle he sprained last week and leaving the game. Elijah Gayle added 10.

In the day’s final contest, top-seed URBE University led from wire to wire and pulled away in the second half to down 4th-seed Beacon College 72-55.

Luis Carias scored 24 points to lead the Tigers, who improved to 20-1 on the season. Ronal Hodelin added 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Hector Saavedra chipped in 14 points as URBE outscored Beacon 41-31 after halftime.

Beacon struggled offensively, shooting 31.3% from the field and 7 of 29 from 3-point range. Ernesto Hichez led the Blazers with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Tony Wade finished with 10 points. Chris Lampkins added nine points and 10 rebounds.

URBE led 31-24 at the break and steadily extended the margin behind efficient shooting and a strong performance at the foul line, where it went 19 of 25.

Saturday’s outcomes mean the top two seeds, URBE and Apprentice, will meet Sunday at 3:00 pm for the 2026 NSAC Men’s Basketball title.

Apprentice, URBE Cruise into NSAC Semis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – For the third time in three weeks, The Apprentice School men’s basketball team was victorious over Mid-Atlantic Christian, winning in the New South Athletic Conference quarterfinals Friday evening 70-58.

Both teams traded buckets through the early portion of the game, but the Builders rattled off a 12-1 run to take control midway through the first half. After the Mustangs clawed their way back to tie the game up at 40-40 early in the second half, Apprentice used another big run to push the lead out to 13 points with eight minutes to go.

From there, the Builders maintained their cushion to earn their fourth straight trip to the NSAC Tournament semifinals.

Jahlil Hope and Devon Brown each had 14 points to pace the home team, while Wayne Hedgepeth and Shamon Rosser had 10 each.

The Builders will take on Atlantis tomorrow in the semifinals in a matchup of the Nos. 7 and 8 teams in the USCAA Division I Coaches Poll just two days before bids are announced for the national tournament. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.

In the nightcap, top-seed URBE University pulled away in the second half to punch its ticket for the semifinals with a 75-55 win over 8th-seed Southeast Christian.

Luis Carias scored 20 points to lead URBE, which outscored Southeast Christian 45-27 after halftime. Hector Saavedra added 14 points, and Ethan Fernandez came off the bench to knock down four 3-pointers. Ronal Hodelin contributed 18 rebounds to anchor a 52-39 edge on the glass.

Southeast was a victim of attrition. Two Eagles players went down with injuries and three others fouled out, leaving SECC with just four players on the floor in the last minute of play. Coy Sizemore led the Eagles with 15 points, while Lomar Sparrow posted 13 points and 17 rebounds. Ronald Rodman added 11 points.

URBE advances to face 4th-seed Beacon on Saturday at 7:30 pm in the tournament semifinals.

Apprentice story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics

Atlantis, Beacon Survive and Advance

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Atlantis University pulled away in the second half to beat South Carolina Central 74-58 Friday afternoon in the first quarterfinal game of the 2026 NSAC Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Artem Sorokin scored 21 points and knocked down five 3-pointers to lead Atlantis, which outscored South Carolina Central 43-29 after halftime. Ornie Brooks added 15 points and five assists, while Folayemi Salako posted 12 points and 13 rebounds. The 3rd-seeded Atlanteans shot 46.4% in the second half and went 9 of 20 from beyond the arc for the game.

Nazir Sample led 7th-seed S4C with 15 points, while Tyrek Dawson and David Lias each scored 11. The Gladiators struggled at the foul line, hitting just 3 of 11 free throws.

In the second game of the afternoon, 4th-seed Beacon College came from 22 points down to beat 5th-seed Lighthouse in overtime, 97-93.

Ernesto Hichez finished with 32 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Blazers, which erased a 13-point halftime deficit. Tony Wade added 23 points, knocking down five 3-pointers, and Noah Wilhelm scored 17, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:09 left in overtime, as Beacon shot 52.5% in the second half and 44.4% from beyond the arc for the game.

Lighthouse led 48-35 at the break and had four players score in double figures, led by Eddie Brown’s 26 points and 12 rebounds. JB Wiltz added 25 points, while Brent Royal Jr. chipped in 12. Marcus White grabbed 15 rebounds for the visitors.

URBE and Beacon face off for the third time this season in the tournament semifinals Saturday at 7:30 pm.

Concord Classic to Pit NSAC Rivals This Weekend

CONCORD, N.C. – The highlight of the 2026 NSAC men’s basketball regular season happens this weekend as Barber-Scotia College hosts the Concord Classic.

“Weather forced the cancellation of last weekend’s Pensacola Classic, but neither rain nor snow nor dark of night will stop us this weekend,” joked NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “But seriously, we’ll be keeping an eye on the forecast, but the teams are all here and ready to tip off.”

With several upsets already in the books this season, this weekend is being highly anticipated.

All games will take place at Newsom Gym on the campus of Barber-Scotia at 145 Cabarrus Avenue W, Concord, North Carolina. Tickets are available at the door, and you can watch the live stream here.

Friday (Day 1) January 30

2:00 PM — SC Central 75, Atlantis 72

4:00 PM —Apprentice 74, Southeast Christian 42

6:00 PM — Beacon 96, Barber-Scotia 80

8:00 PM — MACU 77, Millennia 50

Saturday (Day 2) January 31

12:00 AM — Beacon vs SC Central

2:00 PM — Apprentice vs Atlantis

4:00 PM — Barber-Scotia vs Millennia

6:00 PM — Southeast Christian vs MACU

Sunday (Day 3) February 1

10:00 AM — Millennia vs Apprentice

12:00 PM — MACU vs Beacon

2:00 PM — SC Central vs Southeast Christian

4:00 PM — Atlantis vs Barber-Scotia

Southeast Downs Crosstown Rival Beacon 78-69

LEESBURG, Fl. – Southeast Christian jumped out to an early 12-point advantage and led start-to-finish in defeating rival Beacon College 78-69 Monday night.

“It was the best basketball I’ve seen my team play,” said Eagles coach Dwayne Walker. “They are buying in and locking into what I have been saying.”

Southeast (15-7 overall, 2-7 NSAC) took a 36-28 margin into intermission. The Blazers (10-10, 5-4) cut the deficit to four points before SECC stretched the lead to the final score.

Lomar Sparrow led the Eagles with 29 points while Karlton Walton added 15 and Tasir Best contributed 13. Coy Sizemore finished with 11.

Chris Lampkins led Beacon with 18 points.

Both teams will be back in action this Friday at the Concord Classic in Concord, North Carolina, with Beacon facing Barber-Scotia and Southeast taking on Apprentice.

Image courtesy Southeast Christian Athletics

Beacon Knocks off Atlantis in OT 78-75

LEESBURG, Fl. – Chris Lampkins scored 21 points and Javeon Wells-Reddick added 19 as Beacon held off Atlantis University 78-75 in overtime Sunday afternoon.

Beacon (9-9 overall, 5-3 NSAC) built its edge at the free-throw line, going 23 of 36, and overcame a strong individual effort from Atlantis’ Santiago Insaurralde to secure the victory. Wells-Reddick was efficient inside, finishing 6 of 8 from the field while pulling down nine rebounds. Noah Wilhelm chipped in 18 points, and Tony Wade contributed 10 points and seven assists for Beacon.

Atlantis (11-8, 5-2) was led by Insaurralde, who poured in a game-high 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds. Artem Sorokin and Dennis Marrero each scored 11 points, while Ornie Brooks added nine.

Atlantis, ranked seventh in the latest USCAA Division 1 poll, shot 42.9% from the field but struggled from long range, hitting just 4 of 23 3-point attempts. Beacon finished at 44.6% overall and used balanced scoring and late free throws to close out the win.

Image courtesy Beacon Athletics/Ben Silva

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

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

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

Blazers Show Efficiency in Hard-Fought Loss at Fort Lauderdale

NORTH MIAMI, Fl. — The Beacon College Blazers men’s basketball team showcased efficient offense and teamwork on Tuesday night, but ultimately fell 82–72 on the road to the University of Fort Lauderdale.

Despite the final margin, the Blazers displayed balance and composure throughout the contest, battling back from an early deficit and continuing to build momentum in their young season. Beacon shot an impressive 50% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc, moving the ball well to generate high-quality looks. Ernesto Hichez led the way with a dominant 21 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists, marking another double-double performance and proving to be a steady interior presence.

Tony Wade and Tre’von Redd each added 13 points, with Wade contributing six assists and Redd connecting on three three-pointers while matching Wade’s assist total. Javeon Wells-Reddick continued his consistent play inside, finishing with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks, a strong two-way effort that energized the Blazers throughout the second half. Noah Wilhelm chipped in eight points and five rebounds, while Sean James added a perfect 1-for-1 from the floor off the bench.

The Blazers’ offensive rhythm kept them within striking distance all night, but UFTL’s hot shooting from deep (70% from three-point range) proved difficult to overcome. Beacon trailed 44–31 at halftime yet fought to outscore the Eagles in stretches of the second half, narrowing the gap with efficient ball movement and interior defense.

While the result didn’t go Beacon’s way, the Blazers’ 22 assists on 27 made field goals highlighted their unselfish play and continued growth.

The Blazers will look to regroup and build on their strong offensive showing as they travel to
face Atlantis University on Saturday, November 15th, in an NSAC matchup.

Story and image courtesy Beacon Athletics