Category: MACU

Bruin Rally Spoils Hot Mustang Start 89-80

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian raced out to a 20-0 lead but failed to hold off Carolina University’s comeback in falling 89-80 Saturday.

The Mustangs (3-11 overall, 2-0 NSAC), looking to turn around their fortunes in what had been a disappointing start to their season, looked like world beaters in the opening five minutes of the contest. But the Bruins (4-12) began to claw back into the game and trimmed the margin to nine, 43-34, at the half. The second frame belonged to CU, who shot 64.7% after intermission to pull away for the win. Carolina made good use of its reserves, holding a 29-4 advantage in points off the bench.

Noah Richardson-Keys led the Herd with 22 points. Talik Totten and Josh Tyler added 16 points each, and Carlos Raven contributed 13. Carolina’s Adam Claybourne led all scorers with 26.

Great Ships Classic to Feature Two NSAC Contests

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Apprentice School Department of Athletics is set to host the Great Ships Classic basketball tournament this weekend at the Apprentice School Athletics Center.

Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, six different institutions will come to Newport News to take part in the tournament. On the women’s side, Cheyney, Clinton, and Washington Adventist will participate, while the men’s side will include Central International, Central Penn, and Mid-Atlantic Christian.

Saturday at 4:00 pm, the CIC and MACU men’s teams will tangle in an NSAC rematch. The Mustangs (1-7 overall, 1-0 NSAC) nipped the Cardinals 101-77 on November 8 in Elizabeth City. On Sunday, second-ranked Apprentice (6-3) will face Central (5-4, 0-1) at 6:00 pm. It will be the Builders’ first conference game of the year.

Games each day will start at 12 p.m. with four games happening per day. The Builder basketball teams will play the first two games of the day Saturday and the last two on Sunday.

Story and Image courtesy gobuilders.com

Mustangs Fall at St. Augustine’s 89-53

RALEIGH, NC –The Saint Augustine’s men’s basketball team shot 56.2 percent from three-point range on the way to an 89-53 win against the Mid-Atlantic Christian Mustangs at home Wednesday.

The Falcons (4-5) had six players score in double figures, led by Nemo Johnson, who had 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Caleb Gilmore added 11 points off of the bench and Joshua Johnson helped out with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals off of the bench.

MACU (1-7) was led by Carlos Raven’s 10 points.

Story and image courtesy saintaugfalcons.com

Key Matchups Highlight Post-Thanksgiving Slate This Week

After a needed Thanksgiving Day break, New South teams return to action this week to a slate of interesting matchups. 

Blue Lights opens the week on Tuesday by hosting the JV team from Livingstone, The Thoroughbreds (4-2) hope to end a two-game slide by getting key players back from injuries. 

Wednesday night is Rivalry Night in Miami as Atlantis (3-2) hosts cross-town foe United International College.  

It’s officially called the Roger Taylor Classic, but Apprentice (5-1) and MACU (1-4) consider the weekend of games in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to be the “NSAC-USA South Showdown.” On Friday, the Builders face Greensboro College and the Thoroughbreds tackle NC Wesleyan. They switch opponents on Saturday.  

Central International (4-4) gets back to action on Monday, December 4, taking on a much-improved Patrick Henry College team.  

Lighthouse (5-2) will try to knock the rust off from a two-week layoff when it travels to Atlantis on December 6. It will mark the first-ever NSAC conference game for both teams. 

Mustangs Drop Exhibition at NCCU

DURHAM, N.C. – Redshirt senior Ja’Darius Harris and junior Keishon Porter lit up McDougald-McLendon Arena from distance, combining for seven three-pointers in NCCU’s 113-50 victory over Mid-Atlantic Christian in an exhibition game Tuesday evening.

Sophomore forward Joshua Tyler led the Mustangs with 15 points.

“Our goal was to work on our defense and score 50 points,” MACU coach Charles Sims said after the game. “We did that. One of their players said to me, ‘You’re changing the defense every time down the floor.’ I told him, ‘ We have to keep you on your toes.'”

“Our guys know that this is a process. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re in a good place,” said Sims.

The Mustangs (1-2 overall, 1-0 NSAC) face cross-town rival Elizabeth City State tonight.

Story details courtesy nccueaglepride.com; image courtesy gomacumustangs.com

Three Ball Pushes MACU Past CIC 101-77

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian’s long-range game was the difference maker Tuesday night as the Mustangs put away Central International 101-77 in the NSAC Tipoff Classic.

The Mustangs (1-1 overall, 1-0 NSAC) shot 46.7% (14 of 30) from beyond the arc, almost as good as they did from the floor overall (46.8%). The Cardinals (3-2, 0-1) shot a good 50% from the floor, but only mustered 3 of 14 (21.4%) from three.

MACU opened on a 9-0 run before CIC got on the board, then stretched the lead to as much as 16 before intermission. Central used a 12-2 run to claw back in the second half, trimming the lead to 64-60 with less than 12 minutes to play, but could get no closer as the Herd used a 14-3 run of its own to put the game away.

“Today’s game was good for the players as they came together collectively as a group to achieve the first home game victory,” MACU coach Charles Sims said after the game. “From the onset they made up in their minds that this game was going to be a statement game. We still have areas of the game that we need to improve in, too. We will continue to take the approach of one game at a time mentality.”

Junior Carlos Raven led the Mustangs with 21 points, while CIC’s Sincere Moore led all scorers with 24.

Image courtesy USCAA Sports Network/MACU

Conference Hoops Action Tips Wednesday Night

Central International and Mid-Atlantic Christian hook up in the first NSAC game of the season Wednesday night in the NSAC Tipoff Classic at Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

With CIC just making the move from Chester to Waverly, Virginia, Cardinals coach Wayne Johnson is taking a long-term approach to the contest. “We’re trying to make sure we build as the season progresses and stay focused and disciplined, and understand the big picture is later, not necessarily right now,” said Johnson. However, the Cards have tasted some early season success, already taking a pre-season tourney title and sporting a 3-1 record.

“We’re excited about this season,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “CIC will be a good early season test for us in the NSAC.” MACU is coming off a 97-91 opening loss at Carolina University on Saturday and an exhibition loss at Liberty Monday night.

Gators Edge Mustangs 70-63, Advance to Sunday’s Championship

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Third seed Virginia Peninsula distanced itself late in the second half Saturday night to down 2nd seed Mid-Atlantic Christian 70-63 and put the Gators in a position to defend their NSAC crown on Sunday.

As throughout the season, the Gators (12-9) used a balanced attack, putting four players in double figures. Jhalen Harris, Keshaun Johnson, and Javion Majette poured in 16 points apiece while Mekhi Reid added 13. First-team All-Conference selection Majette clocked a double-double, adding 14 rebounds.

MACU’s (12-11) Talik Totten, himself an All-NSAC first teamer, scored 14 points, and Jalen Jones came off the bench to chip in 13.

VPCC, the 2022 conference champion, will now face rival Apprentice Sunday at 4:00 pm for the 2023 title.

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.