Category: Christendom College

Gators Cruise Past ‘Saders, 79-60

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Third-seed Virginia Peninsula found its rhythm early, jumping to more than a 20-point lead in the first half, and dispatched with 5th-seeded Christendom 79-60 in the New South Men’s Basketball quarterfinals Thursday night.

Jhalen Harris led the Gators with 21 PTS followed closely by Javion Majette’s 20. Quishaun Brevard recorded a double-double of 12 points and 10 assists.

Christendom’s Vander Woude brothers did their best to keep it close. Junior John Paul poured in 21 points, including five treys, while freshman Bobby matched the point total with four 3s.

VPCC moves on to face 2nd seed Mid-Atlantic Christian in the semifinals. That game is scheduled to tip off Saturday at 6:00 pm at the Apprentice Athletic Center in Newport News.

Image courtesy Virginia Peninsula Community College Athletics

Gators’ Win Finalizes MBB Playoff Picture

Virginia’s Peninsula’s 79-70 win over Mid-Atlantic Christian in the final regular season conference game of the year pushes the Gators into the third seed for next week’s NSAC Basketball Tournament.

Fourth-seed Blue Lights College and Carolina Christian, which tied Christendom for the 5th seed, will open the tournament Tuesday night in Apex, North Carolina in a quarterfinal game. VPCC will host Christendom Thursday night in the other opening round matchup in Newport News, Virginia. The two winners will advance to Saturday’s semifinals at the Apprentice Athletic Center, also in Newport News.

Thanks to Joe Dotson/Christendom Athletics for the bracket graphic

Gators Playing for Third Seed Today vs MACU

Today’s game featuring Mid-Atlantic Christian at Virginia Peninsula will be the 23rd and final New South Conference men’s basketball game of the season, and still there is something to play for besides pride.

The VPCC Gators enter the contest at 2-4 in NSAC play (9-9 overall) and holding down the 4th seed for next week’s conference tournament. A Gator win would propel them into the 3rd seed ahead of Blue Lights College. This would not have an impact on the quarterfinals, which are locked in, but it does impact the semifinal bracket.

If Peninsula gets past MACU and claims the third seed, then the winner of Thursday’s VPCC/Christendom quarterfinal will play #2 MACU, and Tuesday’s BLC/Carolina Christian winner will face top seed Apprentice in next Saturday’s tournament semifinals. If The Gators lose to the Mustangs today, then VPCC and Blue Lights will keep their 3rd and 2nd seeds, respectively.

Still confused? Check back after today’s game.

Today’s game tips at 2pm at Warwick High School in Newport News, Virginia.

Apprentice Secures Top Seed with 40-Point Win

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The New South Athletic Conference regular season title can call Newport News home as The Apprentice School men’s basketball team dispatched Christendom, 82-42, Tuesday night.

From the opening tip, it was all Apprentice as the Builders ran away early, leading 45-15 at halftime on the back of a 7-for-13 three point shooting half. AS didn’t look back in the second half, pushing the lead out to as many as 47 in the clinching game. The Builders shot nearly 51 percent as a team, including 11 threes.

The win secures the Builders as the number one seed in the upcoming NSAC Tournament.

Avin Hawkins and Jayden Eason each had 17 points. Hawkins was 4-for-8 behind the arc, while Eason hit 7-of-11 from the floor. The Crusaders’ John Paul Vander Woude finished with 19 points.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

Tournament Implications Loom Large Tuesday Night

Tuesday’s Blue Lights home game against Virginia Peninsula Community College will play a major factor in determining first round matchups in the 2023 New South Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament.

After this weekend’s results, here are how things stand (NSAC W-L):

Apprentice 9-0*
Mid-Atlantic Christian 5-1*
Virginia Peninsula 2-3
Blue Lights 1-3
Christendom 0-3
Carolina Christian 0-6

*Clinched first round bye

Remaining NSAC games:
Apprentice: 2 (vs Christendom, vs MACU)
MACU: 3 (vs. CCC, at Apprentice, at VPCC)
VPCC: 2 (at BLC, vs MACU)
BLC: 1 (vs VPCC)
Christendom: 1 (at Apprentice)
Carolina Christian: 1 (at MACU)

Both Apprentice and MACU have clinched a bye into the semifinals.

A BLC win against Virginia Peninsula on Tuesday will lock up an opening round game for the Herd at Hope Community Church Arena, taking place during the week of February 21st. If the Gators win, it will clinch a home game for themselves as well as a guaranteed third place finish.

A Thoroughbreds loss – combined with a Christendom win at Apprentice – would secure the Crusaders a home playoff game, forcing BLC to play on the road.

The Thoroughbreds-Gators game tips off at 6:30pm EST, airing LIVE on the Thoroughbreds Sports Network on YouTube. Christendom-Apprentice tips off 30 minutes later at 7pm EST, also on YouTube.

The NSAC Basketball Tournament final four will be held February 25 and 26 in Newport News, Virginia.

Story and image courtesy Craig Green/BLC Media

MACU Toughs Out Win at Christendom, 80-69

FRONT ROYAL, Va. – Freshman forward Jalen Jones chalked 17 points to lead Mid-Atlantic Christian to 80-69 NSAC win at Christendom Saturday afternoon.

“It was the kind of game we expected with Christendom,” said MACU coach Charles Sims. “Our games have always been competitive and tight.”

The Mustangs led by three at halftime, 37-34, and were able to turn up the defensive intensity in the second half.

“Christendom never backs down, and they are disciplined, so we knew what to expect,” said Sims. “It was good to get this win on the road.”

The Crusaders were coming off another tight New South game just the night before, a 70-63 home loss to Apprentice.

MACU improved to 4-1 in league play and 9-7 overall, while the Crusaders moved to 0-3 and 5-8, respectively.

Christendom MBB Officially Joins NSAC

Christendom College’s men’s basketball team has made it official, accepting an invitation to join the New South Athletic Conference effective immediately. They join the women’s team which joined on December 24.

“The conference board voted to invite all of Christendom’s teams this past summer, but they were not able to finalize it until this week,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “We are wanting to grow the conference strategically, and the Crusaders tick all of the boxes for us: a solid academic institution, stable athletics, competitive teams, and within the geographic footprint. We are delighted they are a part of the NSAC family!”

Christendom is also a member of the USCAA, along with Apprentice and MACU.

The Crusaders bring the total number of men’s basketball teams to seven for the 2022-23 season and will be eligible for the conference championship tournament in late February. Their game at MACU on December 3, 2022, a 66-49 Mustang win, will count in the conference standings.