Category: MACU

Wyatt Leads Mohawks to Three Wins, Named POW

John Melvin Christian (FL) picked up three wins coming off the Christmas break last week, led by the work of Joshua Wyatt. The 6’3″ junior guard averaged 14 ppg along with 12 rpg, shooting 18-32 from the field. Wyatt put up 17 points, grabbed 12 boards, dished out 5 assists, and snagged 6 steals against Florida Coastal on Friday. For his outstanding performance, Wyatt has been named the NSAC Player of the Week.

For the season Josh is averaging 16.3 ppg and 7.2 rpg while shooting 57% FG and 42.6% from deep.

Sam Benton, Jr. of Lighthouse and Keith Shakes, Jr. of MACU earned Honorable Mention.

Congrats to all three!

Mustangs Stymie Gladiators 94-68

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Keith Shakes, Jr. and Janus Shepherd scored 21 points apiece to lead Mid-Atlantic Christian to a 94-68 NSAC win Saturday afternoon over South Carolina Central Christian.

The Mustangs (6-7 overall, 4-0 NSAC) opened the game in red-hot fashion jumping to a 28-4 margin before the Gladiators settled into their game. S4C (1-7, 1-2), missing four players out with COVID symptoms, cut the lead to 14, but could get no closer. MACU led by as many as 29 late before settling for the final margin.

Tyus Williams added 12 for the Herd while Terrence Williams and Elijah Dias each tallied 12.

Cedric Shelby led the Gladiators with 21 and Daquan Ramey added 18.

Mustangs Sweep, Builders Dominate in Day Three of Christmas Classic

TOCCOA FALLS, Ga. – Mid-Atlantic Christian upset seventh-ranked Atlantis 64-60 Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep of the NSAC North-South Christmas Classic.

The game was tied 21-21 at halftime, but the Mustangs (5-6 overall, 3-0 NSAC) separated themselves from the Atlanteans after intermission to lead by as many as 14 points. AU (6-8, 1-3) closed the gap late for the final score. Keith Shakes led MACU with 20 points.

The Mustangs defeated both John Melvin campuses on the first two days of competition to set up the trifecta on Sunday in their first NSAC games of the season.

Third-ranked Apprentice wrapped led wire-to-wire in a 90-67 win over John Melvin University Sunday afternoon.

The Builders (8-3, 2-1) opened the game on a 14-2 run that set the tone for the rest of the game. Apprentice hit their first four shots from the floor and went on to shoot 50 percent from the floor in the first half, including hitting 10-of-20 shots from downtown, on the way to a 45-32 lead at intermission.

The Millers (9-7, 1-3) trimmed the lead down to as few as seven early in the second half, but a 10-0 Builder run helped extend the lead back out to a 62-43 lead at the 13:45 mark of the second half. Apprentice pushed the lead out to as many as 28 points on multiple occasions on the way to the win.

In total, 12 Builders made their way into the scoring column with all 16 seeing at least four minutes of action. Adrion Wall paced the way with 22 points.

Sunday’s wins pushed the NSAC North Division to 5-1 in claiming the classic’s bragging rights.

Thanks to Walker McCrary/gobuilders.com for his help with this story

Builders, Mustangs Take Day Two Wins in Christmas Classic

TOCCOA FALLS, Ga. – Third-ranked Apprentice battled for 40 minutes to get past number seven Atlantis 76-74 on Day 2 of the NSAC North-South Christmas Classic Saturday.

The Builders pulled ahead early to take a six-point advantage, but that would be their largest lead as the Atlanteans stormed back, running their lead up to as many as 13 with 12 minutes to play in the game. Apprentice stayed with the plan and chipped away, hitting big shots and free throws down the stretch to secure their first conference win of the season.

Adrion Wall led the way with 23 points, while Karree Smith put up 18. Donovan Means added 15. Santiago Insaurralde led all scorers with 29 for Atlantis.

Mid-Atlantic Christian fell behind early, just as it had on Friday, then pulled ahead to stay in handing John Melvin Christian (FL) its first NSAC loss 91-83 in the day’s second game.

Play concludes on Sunday with John Melvin (LA) taking on Apprentice at 1:00 pm Eastern followed by Atlantis and MACU at 3:00 pm.

JMCC Knocks Off Apprentice, MACU Puts Away JMU at Christmas Classic

TOCCOA FALLS, Ga. – Trailing by as many as 27, USCAA third-ranked Apprentice mounted a massive comeback to make it a game before falling just short in a 108-101 loss to John Melvin Christian College (FL) Friday afternoon at the NSAC North-South Christmas Classic.

JMCC shot over 70 percent in the first half to take a lead as big as 27 points before sitting at a 60-35 lead at intermission. From there, the Builders started chipping away, winning each media timeout period all the way down to the under-4 when Apprentice trailed by just three at 93-90. JMCC did just enough to hold off the Builders to get the win down the stretch.

The Builders’ Donovan Means scored a career high 32 points to lead all scorers. Josh Wyatt led the Mohawks with 26. JMCC went 44-for-48 at the free throw line in the win.

In the nightcap, Mid-Atlantic Christian fell behind by double-digits in the first half, only to take the lead after intermission and pull away late to defeat John Melvin University (LA) 88-74.

Keith Shakes scored 27 points to lead the Mustangs to their first NSAC win. Richard Cassler of JMU led all scorers with 29.

The NSAC Christmas Classic is a three-day event pitting Apprentice and MACU from the North Division facing JMCC (FL), JMU (LA), and Atlantis from the South Division in a round-robin format.

Play continues Saturday at 2:00 pm Eastern time when Apprentice faces #7 Atlantis followed by John Melvin Christian College and MACU at 4:00 pm.

Thanks to Walker McCrary/gobuilders.com for his help with this story.

Three NSAC Teams in USCAA Top 10

The first USCAA men’s basketball rankings of the 2024-25 season are out, and the New South Conference is well represented.

Apprentice, the defending Division 1 national champions, enter the Week One rankings at number two behind undefeated Villa Maria.

Atlantis debuts at seventh despite dropping three games on their New York road trip last week.

Mid-Atlantic Christian rounds out the top 10.

Mustangs Shock WAU 63-61

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian used a balanced scoring attack to down Washington Adventist 63-61 Wednesday night in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

The Mustangs (2-1) put eight players in the scoring column including four with double digits in claiming their first back-to-back wins over NAIA opponents. MACU defeated St. Andrews 78-75 on Saturday.

Transfer Janus Shepherd led all scorers with 14 while Stewart Clough and Keigh Shakes, Jr. each added 13, and senior point guard Carlos Raven chalked a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Jalen Anderson and Chase Cook each scored 12 points for the Shock.

The Herd travels to Rock Hill, South Carolina this Saturday to face NCCAA foe Clinton College. The Golden Bears have claimed consecutive NSAC victims in Atlantis and SC Central.

Lighthouse Outshines MACU in NSAC Semis

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Top-seed Lighthouse Christian used a balance scoring attack and strong rebounding to hold off fourth-seeded Mid-Atlantic Christian 84-69 Saturday afternoon and advance to the NSAC Men’s Basketball Tournament finals.

Lighthouse jumped out toa 9-0 lead and led 50-33 at the half behind Eddie Brown’s 16 points, but MACU held Brown in check much of the second half until the NSAC MVP was forced to leave the game with cramps in both legs with 5:45 to play. The Mustangs trimmed the Makos’ lead to 10 on several occasions, but could get to closer.

All five starters scored in double figures for LCC, led by Chayse Culpeper’s 19. Joshua Tyler scored 19 to lead MACU.

Lighthouse advances to face 2nd-seed Apprentice, which defeated 6th-seed Central International 111-80. The championship game will be Sunday at 2:00 pm.

MACU Downs Atlantis in Opening Round Thriller

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Fourth-seed Mid-Atlantic Christian got 26 points from Carlos Raven, including 12 from beyond the arc, to hold off a determined Atlantis University squad 82-70 in the quarterfinals of the New South Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament Friday afternoon.

After leading by as many as eight in the first half, the Mustangs (8-16) held a 36-32 advantage at the break. The fifth-seeded Atlanteans (7-15) clawed back in the second half to lead by as many as six before MACU pulled away for the final score.

Noah Richardson-Keys added 19 for the Mustangs while Joshua Tyler had 11 and Dre-Shaun Brown chipped in 10.

Keifer Chow led Atlantis with 21 points, Nikko Landon contributed 17, Jose Rosario added 14, and Vaughn Brown had 11.

MACU advances to face top-seed Lighthouse Christian Saturday at 2:00 pm. In the other semifinal, 2nd-seed Apprentice will take on 6th-seed Central International at 4:00 pm.

Apprentice Holds On for 85-80 Win Over MACU

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team found themselves in a battle Tuesday night and ended up on the winning side of an 85-80 matchup against Mid-Atlantic Christian in New South Athletic Conference play.

The top-ranked Builders (19-4 overall, 5-1 NSAC) came out red hot to take an 11-2 lead early before the Mustangs settled in. Apprentice took a 12-point lead at 29-17 with just over eight minutes to go, but MACU answered with a 12-0 run to tie the game up before taking their first lead moments later at 30-29.

After AS retook the lead and held it at halftime, 42-35, the Builders and Mustangs traded blows throughout the entire second half. MACU (8-16, 3-4) cut the lead down to as few as two with 34 seconds to go, but could get no closer as the Builders held on for the win.

Karree Smith finished with 20 points to lead the way for Apprentice, while Adrion Wall scored all 15 of his points in the second half. Donovan Means had 11 points, and Kelby Saunders, Jr., finished the night with 10.

The win, coupled with Blue Lights’ loss Tuesday to Lighthouse Christian, puts Apprentice in sole possession atop the NSAC standings. The Builders will wrap up NSAC play Thursday as they host Lighthouse at 7 p.m.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com