Category: MACU

MACU Faces “Championship Run” This Weekend

After an extended Thanksgiving break that saw Apprentice as the only team in action, NSAC teams ramp back up with five of the league’s six men’s basketball teams on the floor this weekend. But for Mid-Atlantic Christian, it’s not just a post-turkey exercise.

It’s Championship Weekend.

“I told the guys that this is our championship,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “We have three games in three days, and we want to be 6-1 at the end of it.”

With its only loss at NCAA Division 1 NC Central on November 16, MACU is off to one of the best starts in program history, and with the Mustangs sporting a number 8 ranking in the latest USCAA Division 1 coaches poll, Sims sees this weekend as an opportunity.

“We are 0-12 against NC Wesleyan. We need to fix that,” Sims said. The Mustangs face the D3 Bishops in Rocky Mount, NC on Friday night, but that’s just the start. They host familiar USCAA foe Christendom on Saturday, then return to Rocky Mount to take on D3 Greensboro College on Sunday, a stretch that takes on a resemblance to a national championship tournament.

In other games, USCAA seventh-ranked Apprentice hosts Cheyney and Virginia Peninsula travels to Mountain Gateway, both on Saturday. On Sunday, Blue Lights visits VPCC in the Gators’ conference opener while Carolina Christian rolls down I-40 to take on Greensboro Prep.

Mustangs Rout Crusaders 111-66

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian sprinted to a 13-0 lead in its home opener and never looked back in running away from The Crown College (TN) 111-66 in men’s basketball Saturday afternoon.

“The team came out focused and on a mission for today’s game,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “We were able to set the tone and control tempo of the game from the onset. Each player knew what was expected and followed the game plan to precision.”

MACU (3-1 overall, 0-0 NSAC) shot 55.6% for the game and scored 38 points off turnovers while holding Crown (1-4) to just 6.

Senior guard Talik Totten led the scoring with 31 points while shooting a blistering 13 of 15 from the field (86.6%), including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Noah Richardson-Keys added 16, Micah Coburn contributed 14, and three other Mustangs added 13 points each in a game where every MACU player but one got into the scoring column. Justin Barrett led the Royal Crusaders with 14.

In spite of the 45-point final margin, Sims says the Herd has room for improvement. “We still have work to do in certain areas of the game to really reach our full potential. Until we achieve that, we will not be satisfied,” added Sims.

Mustangs Fall to NCCU

DURHAM – Mid-Atlantic Christian suffered its first official loss of the season Tuesday night 109-50 at NCAA D1 NC Central.

“This game has some positives for us to take away,” said MACU coach Charles Sims after the loss in Durham. “The team never stopped fighting against this Division 1 opponent. Games like these just prepare us for our upcoming games.”

Senior guard Talik Totten led MACU (2-1) with 13 points, and freshman forward Noah Richardson-Keys provided 11 points for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs return to Elizabeth City to face Crown College (TN) on Saturday at noon. “I’m looking forward to see the team bounce back and play our home opener,” added Sims.

Mustangs Open Sims Era with Road Win

MONTREAT, N.C.— Mid-Atlantic Christian went on the road to open its 2022-23 men’s basketball season Friday night and claimed a solid 82-74 win at NAIA’s Montreat inb the first game under first-year head coach Charles Sims.
 
MACU (1-0) started the game with a quick 7-3 run before extending the advantage to 12-5 thanks to pressure in the Cavs’ backcourt. That press coupled with a 30 percent shooting clip for the home team allowed the visitors to build their edge out to double digits midway through the frame.
 
The Mustangs led in categories that made an immense difference in the outcome of the first period as MACU caused seven Montreat turnovers, forced an 0-10 3-point shooting stretch from the Cavaliers and outrebounded the Cavs on the glass 23-16 over the initial 20 minutes of action.
 
The Cavaliers’ shooting woes allowed the Mustangs to take a 38-29 lead into the break. At the half, the Cavs converted at a 37.9 percent rate (11-29 FG), while Mid-Atlantic Christian made 41.2 percent (14-34 FG) of its shots.
 
Defensive strength turned into offensive production for the Cavs, and a 12-4 run to start the second period helped Montreat immediately trim the deficit to a single possession (42-40) just 5:05 into the frame.
 
But the Herd responded with a 12-4 scoring spree of its own, and the Mustangs then built the advantage out to as many as 17 points (74-57) with 6:20 to go; however, Montreat wasn’t quite done either.
 
Over the ensuing 3:19, the Cavs scored 13 consecutive points, started by the first 3-point make of the night, a longball from Montreat’s Michael Erbeck. The Cavaliers got within four points on three separate occasions down the stretch, but MACU was able to ice the contest from the free throw line to secure the 8-point victory.
 
Both teams shot better in the second half as Montreat edged Mid-Atlantic Christian in field goal percentage (45.9-45.6). The visitors controlled the glass and converted from the charity stripe, which played an integral part in the upset. MACU held a 37-27 rebounding edge with 12 offensive boards and made 26 of 32 free throws to account for 32.0 percent of its scoring. The Cavs struggled from deep, making just one three in their 21 tries (4.8 percent).

All five Mustang starters scored double digits in a balanced attack led by senior guard Talik Totten’s 16 points.

“It was the first game of the season, and we took care of business,” said Sims.

“Tonight the tougher team won. Give credit where it’s due. MACU won the battle on the boards, got to the line more and made more plays down the stretch than we did,” said Montreat head coach Anthony Barringer.

Story courtesy montreatcavaliers.com

Gators Picked to Repeat in Men’s Basketball

Virginia Peninsula has been tabbed to repeat as NSAC men’s basketball champs this season in a vote by the league’s coaches, with Apprentice and Mid-Atlantic hot on their heels.

VPCC, formerly Thomas Nelson Community College, swept through the conference undefeated last year and finished 18-1 overall, their only loss to 10th-ranked Sandhills.

Both the Gators and the Builders collected three first-place votes, showing how much respect they have among their fellow coaches.

2022-23 NSAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Rankings

  1. Virginia Peninsula – 23 (3)
  2. Apprentice – 20 (3)
  3. MACU – 18
  4. Carolina Christian – 12
  5. Blue Lights – 10
  6. Central International – 7

Here are some of the comments from the league’s coaches entering the season:

  • “The competition will be tough, but we are preparing our guys for it. We have a great chance to compete for a title because our guys work hard and have great chemistry on and off the court.“
  • “Apprentice School comes with the most experienced team in the league and are extremely deep this year in every position. Coach Kee has grown that program into one that will be tough for the next few years.”
  • “We look forward to the conference schedule against a competitive group of opponents. Every team in the league has talent and is capable of winning the league. Should be a fun year.“
  • “MACU had a strong recruiting class to add to their returnees as well with some good size and length. Coach Sims has hit the ground running in his first year at the helm.”
  • “Blue Lights is a wild card with a new coach and brand new team this year, but they could be able to shake the conference up.”