Gators Take Down Bobcats in Season Opener

Trailing by two points in the waning moments of the game, Virginia Peninsula needed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to win and got it from sophomore Jhalen Harris in Saturday’s 81-80 win over the Bryant & Stratton VIT team.

The Gators (1-0) let a 20-point lead slip away in the second half, only to have Coach Christopher Moore call a time out with less than 10 seconds left to draw up a final game-winning play.

VPCC becomes the third New South men’s basketball team this season, along with Carolina Christian and Mid-Atlantic Christian, to open with a win. That streak will end this Tuesday, November 8, when Apprentice hosts Blue Lights in the season and conference opener for both squads.

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

Centurions Claim First MBB Win of ’22-23

Daishawn George and Robert Murdock claimed the first double-doubles of the year in leading Carolina Christian College to a 92-70 win over the High Point University JVs in men’s basketball Wednesday night. It is believed to be the first men’s basketball game of the season.

George, an All-New South second team selection a year ago, picked up where he left off last season with 19 points and 12 rebounds while Murdock chipped in 13 points, grabbed 14 boards, and chalked up 5 steals and 5 assists.

The Centurions (1-0) continue to blaze the early season trail this Saturday when they travel to Clinton College.

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.”