Category: MACU

Mustangs Get First-Ever Win over ECSU 75-71

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian made history Tuesday night as it knocked off cross-town rival Elizabeth City State 75-71 for the first time in program history.

The game was tightly contested, featuring five ties and nine lead changes.

The Mustangs (10-8 overall, 4-0) were led by junior Janus Shepherd with 20 points. Following behind were Stewart Clough, who had 18 points, and Keith Shakes Jr. with 16.

ECSU (10-11) was led by Sterling Vaughn with 18 points.

It was the tenth overall meeting between the two EC schools with the NCAA division 2 Vikings having the upper hand in each of the previous contests.  

The game marked the fourth straight win for MACU since losing to Regent on January 23. The Mustangs host the Royals for a rematch tonight, the third game in three days for Mid-Atlantic.

Image courtesy Isabel LaPoe

Clough’s Return Leads MACU Past Carolina U. 70-68

Forward Stewart Clough returned to the Mid-Atlantic Christian men’s basketball lineup Monday night and scored 17 points to lead the Mustangs to an 70-68 win over Carolina University at Chesson Gym.

The sophomore from Hollywood, Florida, who was injured in December and missed the entire month of January, went 4-of-7 from the field, including 2-of-3 from deep.

“Another big game for us,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims after the game. “We knew what we needed to do, and the team once again stepped up and delivered. It was great to have all the team back after having players out with illness and injuries. Stew Clough, who hadn’t played since December, played a big role. This win was our fourth against an NAIA opponent this season. Being battled-tested early in this season definitely has prepared us for games like these.”

MACU (9-8 overall, 4-0 NSAC) never trailed in the non-conference contest and led by as many as 23 points but had to hold off a late Bruin rally to preserve the win.

Keith Shakes, Jr. and Janus Shepherd each had 14 points and Tyus Williams added 12 for the Herd. Audree Polk had a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds for Carolina (8-12).

Image courtesy Isabel LaPoe

Dias Powers to NSAC POW

Elijah Dias from Mid-Atlantic Christian University was instrumental to the Mustangs’ success over the past week. The freshman forward from Queens, New York is shooting 56% from the field while averaging 18 ppg in the past two games, including 10 points and 10 rebounds against Christendom and 26 points and 6 boards against Bluefield University. For his strong week, Dias is honored as the NSAC Player of the Week.

Congrats, Elijah!

Two Big Conference Games Rescheduled

Two games with big implications for seeding in the NSAC tournament have been postponed.

Due to flu-like symptoms in both programs, the Apprentice School and Mid-Atlantic Christian University, along with the New South Athletic Conference, have agreed to postpone Wednesday night’s game to February 17. Tipoff will still be set for 7:30 p.m.

John Melvin (FL) and Lighthouse, who were also scheduled to meet Wednesday night, have agreed to reschedule due to travel conflicts with the Leesburg Classic, which ended Monday night. The date has yet to be set.

MACU currently sits atop the standings with a 4-0 conference record, while Apprentice is 3-1 and statistically in 4th behind John Melvin (FL) and Lighthouse, who are tied for 2nd at 7-1.

MACU Defeats Bluefield 73-71

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian got 26 points from freshman Elijah Dias and picked up a big non-conference win over Bluefield 73-71 Monday night.

The game had seven lead changes, seven ties, and neither team led by more than seven points.

“This was a big win for us today we were shorthanded with two of our starters out due to being sick,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “I relied on our reserves to get this win today. Elijah Dias had an outstanding game. Bluefield is a NAIA opponent, so we needed to be ready. We had to work for this victory. Every player stepped up and accepted their responsibility which was critical to this game.”

Tyus Williams added 15 points and Keondre Rodgers came off the bench with 12 for the Mustangs (8-8 overall, 4-0 NSAC). MACU was without the service of key players Keith Shakes and Janus Shepherd who were out with illnesses.

Bluefield (5-13) was led by Elijah White with 15 points.

MACU is back in action Wednesday night in a major NSAC matchup at Apprentice.

Image courtesy MACU Athletics

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.