Category: News

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

Benton Named POTW

Blue Lights College point guard Sam Benton, Jr. averaged 19 points and had a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio last week to lead the Thoroughbreds to two wins. For his efforts, Sam is being recognized as the NSAC Player of the Week.

The floor general scored 23 points and and delivered 8 assists while committing only 1 turnover in a 106-101 win over Virginia-Lynchburg on Tuesday. The following night, Benton scored 15 points, hauled in 3 rebounds, and dished 2 assists to lead BLC to a 55-43 win over the North Carolina JVs in Chapel Hill. The freshman from Rocky Mount, NC led the Herd to 18 fast break points and 50% shooting from the field in the second half as the Thoroughbreds outscored the Tar Heels 30-20.

Congratulations to Sam Benton, Jr., our New South men’s basketball Player of the Week!

Builders’ Eley Named POTW

Senior swingman Shawn Eley has been named Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for his outstanding work in three games for Apprentice last week.

At Virginia Wesleyan, Eley scored nine points and hauled in 12 rebounds, but he was just getting started. At the NSAC game against Blue Lights College, the Outside Machinist worked inside and out for 21 points and 10 boards. The Elizabeth City, North Carolina native then turned it up against his hometown rival, pouring in 24 points, grabbing eight rebounds and nicking five steals against Elizabeth City State.

Congratulations to Apprentice senior Shawn Eley, our New South MBB Player of the Week!

Totten’s Big Weekend Propels Him to POTW

Mid-Atlantic Christian senior guard Talik Totten has been named at the New South Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

Totten helped Mid-Atlantic Christian win on Saturday against Christendom, providing 22 points with 12 of those points coming from the 3-point line. In the Mustangs’ game against Greensboro, Totten gave his team 31 points off of 12-17 from the floor and 6-9 from the 3-point line. Totten was named to the Roger Taylor All-Classic Team for his play in the three-day tournament.

Congratulations, Talik!

Yak Named Player of the Week

Wol Yak of Blue Lights College has been named the first New South Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the 2022-23 season.

Yak’s college basketball career got off to an impressive start this past week. The 6-6 freshman led his team in scoring in both games on the road. For the week, Yak totaled 49 points, 19 boards, 2 blocks, and 2 steals (avg 24.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 steal), while shooting an impressive 52% from the field and 37% from 3.

Yak is the brother of former Thoroughbreds forward Yak Yak.

Congratulations to Wol Yak, the NSAC Player of the Week!

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.”