Category: News

Blue Lights Stuns Top-Ranked Apprentice 99-83

APEX, N.C. – Blue Lights used stellar shooting to lead by as many as 22 points in the second half and defeat USCAA top-ranked Apprentice 99-83 in NSAC action Tuesday night.

Blue Lights (9-5, 2-1) shot 48 percent from distance in the first half to jump out to a 12-point lead by halftime. The Thoroughbreds extended their lead to as many as 24 early in the second half before the Builders went on a run, cutting the lead to 11 midway through the second half. BLC withstood the pressure and held on to get the win in conference play.

But Thoroughbreds sophomore Wol Yak said it really started on the other end of the floor.

“Defense leads to offense,” Yak said after the game. “We planned to stop them with defense and get the ball back leading to offense. This is the game we had been waiting for all year. This is the one team we had to beat, and we did it.”

“Proud of our team for winning nine games straight coming into today,” said Builders coach Evan Kee. “Credit to Blue Lights for putting together a complete game today. We look forward to using this game as a learning lesson and bouncing back this weekend.”

It was a night of firsts in Apex. Apprentice (14-4 overall, 3-1 NSAC) lost to a conference opponent for the first time since joining the league in 2022. The game also marked Blue Lights’ first win over a ranked opponent in the program’s seven-year history.

In their first meeting of the season on January 6, Apprentice defeated Blue Lights 94-89.

BLC freshman Kalil Baker led all scorers with 33 points. Freshman Donovan Means led the Builders with 25 points.

Apprentice returns home to host Johnson & Wales, ranked 10th in USCAA Division 2, on Saturday. Blue Lights hosts MACU in an NSAC game Tuesday, January 30.

Image courtesy Craig Green/BLC Media. Thanks to Walker McCray/Apprentice Athletics for his help with this story

Means Claims Player of the Week Honors for 2nd Time

For the second time this season, Donovan Means of The Apprentice School is named as the men’s basketball Player of the Week.

In the Builders’ lone game of the week, Means had 23 points (9-14 FG, 4-5 3pt) and 10 rebounds in leading AS over MACU 90-82.

The 6’3″ freshman guard from Chesterfield, Virginia was also named POTW in the first week of the season.

Congrats to Donovan Means, the NSAC Player of the Week!

Image courtesy Apprentice School Athletics

Wildcats Cruise Past Thoroughbreds

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Blue Lights College struggled to find its rhythm without the services of leading scorer Kalil Baker and fell to Johnson & Wales 103-62 on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats, ranked tenth in USCAA Division 2, scorched the nets to the tune of 55.7% shooting, and 52.4% from the three point line. JWU (7-8) jumped out to a 27-11 lead in the first ten minutes and was never threatened the rest of the way. The final margin of 41 proved to be the Wildcats’ largest lead of the game.

JWU’s Jaben Mars led all scorers with 24 points. Wol Yak has 18 for the Thoroughbreds, who move to 8-5 on the season.

Story Courtesy JWU Athletics Image Courtesy BLC Media

CIC, Blue Lights Trade Opponents

Events over the past few weeks have had men’s basketball teams scrambling to make adjustments to continue their seasons and fill holes in their schedules. This has led to two NSAC teams trading opponents.

The departure of coach Nolan Adams from the Blue Lights sidelines in mid-season created some uncertainty as to whether the Thoroughbreds would be able to participate in Apprentice’s MLK Classic last weekend. Enter Central International College to fill in. This also allowed the Cardinals to make up the conference game with Apprentice that was postponed from December 10 due to floor conditions.

Now, it’s Blue Lights’ chance to step in. CIC is suffering attrition issues including an ankle injury starting point guard Jordan Harrington suffered during the MLK. With the Cards shorthanded, the Herd will take their place in a non-conference game Saturday at Johnson & Wales.

The NSAC game between CIC and BLC scheduled for this past Tuesday in Apex, North Carolina was postponed, but they are set to play again on Tuesday, February 6.

Photo by Austin Kehmeier on Unsplash

Goode’s Double-Double Paces Apprentice Past UIC

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Clifton Goode finished with a career-high 19 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 Apprentice took down ninth-ranked United International College on the final day of the MLK Classic Sunday 87-73.

The Builders (13-3 overall, 2-0 NSAC) are now 10-0 at home this season and have not lost in Newport News in the last 16 home games, dating back to an 11-point loss to Berkeley at home last February.

The Eagle Rays (6-8) took an early lead, coming out of the gates with a 21-15 lead midway through the first half, but the Builders answered with a 15-3 run over the next seven minutes of play to take a 30-24 lead. After being out in front 40-31 at halftime, the Builders saw their lead cut to three multiple times in the first five minutes of the second half before extending the advantage to as many as 17 to keep their unbeaten home winning streak intact.

In addition to Goode’s stat line, Adrion Wall also recorded a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds. Karree Smith added 12, while Avin Hawkins contributed 11.

The Builders are in action again on Tuesday as they jump back into NSAC play at Mid-Atlantic Christian. Tip time is set for 7 p.m. in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

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.

Apprentice 3-Point Barrage Sinks CIC

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Apprentice hit a program record 18 three pointers as the Builders raced past Central International Saturday 118-70 in the MLK Classic.

The Builders (12-3 overall, 2-0 NSAC) opened the game on a 12-0 run and led 22-5 just seven minutes into the contest before CIC (7-7, 0-3) finally got rolling, cutting the lead down to as few as eight. Apprentice, ranked number 1 in the USCAA, responded with three-pointer after three-pointer to pull away and stay unbeaten in New South Athletic Conference action.

Adrion Wall had a game-high 28 points, hitting five threes on the day. Karree Smith and Donovan Means each had 15 points, while Xavien Hunter added 13 and Avin Hawkins put up 10.

The 118 points scored is the second most all-time only behind a 2009 performance against Ohio State-Marion on February 27, 2009.

In the other MLK Classic game on the men’s side Saturday, Camp defeated UIC 87-77.

The Builders will take on UIC tomorrow at 2 p.m. to wrap up the MLK Classic.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/gobuilders.com. Photo by Mike Davis.

Lighthouse Upsets #9 UIC 77-67

Miami – Sophomore point guard Eddie Brown scored 30 points, including four three-pointers in the second half, to propel Lighthouse to a 77-67 win over USCAA ninth-ranked UIC Monday afternoon.

The Makos (10-4 overall, 0-1 NSAC) held a 40-37 lead at the break but pulled away behind Brown’s 18 second-half points. Brown was also 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Sophomore swingman Houston Culpepper added 12 points, and his brother, junior guard Chayse Culpepper, contributed 11.

Sophomore guard Santiago Insaurralde led the Eagle Rays (6-5) with 16 points.

Photo by Max Winkler on Unsplash

Wall Honored as NSAC Player of the Week

Top-ranked Apprentice opened NSAC conference play on Saturday with a hard-fought win over Blue Lights and cruised to a non-conference victory over Gallaudet on Sunday. The Builders were led by Adrion Wall, who averaged 18 points and six rebounds in the two games and has been named the Player of the Week.

Wall, a 6-3 junior guard from Norfolk, scored 15 points and grabbed five boards as the Builders picked up their first NSAC win of the year. On Sunday, Wall led all scorers with 21 while hauling in seven boards, two assists, and two steals.

Honorable Mention: Eddie Brown, Lighthouse Christian College

Congratulations to Adrion Wall, the NSAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week!

Image courtesy gobuilders.com

Top-ranked Apprentice Holds Off BLC 94-89

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Despite trailing for a majority of the game, the No. 1-ranked Apprentice School men’s basketball team battled to claim a 94-89 win over Blue Lights College in the New South Athletic Conference opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.

The Thoroughbreds withstood an early 8-0 push by the Builders, responding with an 8-0 run of their own to keep the game going back-and-forth early on. With the score in favor of the Builders at 24-18 midway through the first half, Blue Lights answered with a 19-4 run to take a 37-28 lead late in the period. BLC led the game at the half, 45-41, and held on to the advantage much of the second half.

In its first game under interim coach Denzel Johnson, Blue Lights (7-4 overall, 0-1 NSAC) led 72-66 at the midway point of the second half before the Builders rattled off seven straight points over a 1:53 span to retake the lead for the first time since halfway through the first period at 73-72. The game teetered back and forth before Apprentice (10-3, 1-0) reeled off a 7-0 spurt with 2:30 to play to take a 92-87 lead, a lead that would hold to give the Builders their first conference win of the season.

Sam Benton, Jr. led five Thoroughbreds in double-figure scoring with 23. Donovan Means finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds for Apprentice, 15 of those points coming in the second half. Five other Builders finished in double figures.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com