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!

Mustangs Assessing Strengths, Weaknesses

Since achieving its number eight ranking in the first USCAA Division 1 men’s basketball poll earlier this month, the Mid-Atlantic Christian University Mustangs have cooled off from their early season start, dropping three of four contests to fall to 4-4 overall. The latest of those was a 76-71 loss at Carolina University on Saturday. First-year head coach Charles Sims is taking this as an opportunity for evaluation.

“We have to continue to improve in our weak areas of the game to achieve victories in games like these, said Sims. “This was yet another learning experience that we will build upon to get better and get us to that next level where the outcome of the game will be different.”

MACU led by 11 at halftime, but the Bruins took control going into the break.

“Saturday’s game was a contest that really pushed us to our limits,” Sims appraised. “The first half and the second half were two different games for us. The players played hard and met the challenges and our first half goals, and our defense allowed us to capitalize off of the Bruins turnovers in the first half, and as a team we only committed 3 turnovers in the first half.”

But then…

“Carolina University was able to hit a 3-pointer before halftime which gave them momentum into the half. At times in the second half we did not execute well. The Bruins had a plan, and they executed it to perfection in the second half: Get the ball in (Bruins senior guard) Micah Cooper’s hands and let him drive to the basket. He had too many free throw attempts for this game, which made the difference.”

Cooper finished with 28 points, including 14 of 17 from the charity stripe, and 10 rebounds. By contrast, the Mustangs had a total of 14 trips to the free throw line for the game, making nine of them.

MACU Senior Talik Totten matched Cooper’s 28 points to lead Mustang scoring. Noah Richardson-Keys added 13.

The Mustangs will next be in action on Saturday hosting Pitt Community College.

Image courtesy stretchinternet.com

Cardinals Fly Past Southside 84-76

Amp Williams led a balanced scoring attack for Central International as the Cardinals downed Southside Virginia Community College 84-76 in a non-conference contest on Saturday.

Williams, a freshman from Richmond, chalked 18 points while Ty Rias added 16 and Deshawn Ridley contributed 15.

CIC improved to 2-1 on the season while the Panthers fell to 2-3.

Apprentice Captures 90-74 Road Win at Blue Lights

APEX, N.C. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team took down Blue Lights in New South Athletic Conference play Tuesday night, 90-72.

Blue Lights took the early advantage and led most of the first half. Trailing 31-24 at the 3:11 mark, the Builders went on a 9-0 run to end the half and take their first lead of the contest at 33-31.

In the second half, Apprentice turned up the heat defensively, pulling away throughout the half by turning over the Thoroughbreds and turning it into points as they won their first road game of the 2022-23 season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Two Builders finished with double-doubles as Shawn Eley put up 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Jayden Eason racked up 15 points with 14 boards. Karree Smith also had 21 points, while Chris Himmon put up 11.
  • BLC’s Keyshawn Bryant led all scorers with 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
  • Apprentice hit 8-of-25 three pointers on the night.
  • The Builders pulled down 27 offensive rebounds.

Story courtesy gobuilders.com

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!

Centurions Win Behind George’s 43

Carolina Christian picked up its third win of the season Sunday 104-97 at Greensboro Prep. The Centurions were led by junior Daishaun George’s 43 points and 16 rebounds.

“Everyone played well in the second half,” said CCC coach William Peay. “We were down 17 with 10 minutes left, but just kept fighting.”

Carolina Christian (3-6 overall, 0-2 NSAC) is next scheduled to host Blue Lights College on December 14 before entering the Christmas break.

Totten’s 31 Not Enough as MACU Falls to GC

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Nationally 8th-ranked Mid-Atlantic Christian hoped to get two out of three for the weekend after its win on Saturday, but came up short to Greensboro College 97-80 in the Roger Taylor Invitational in Rocky Mount, N.C.

MACU (4-3 overall, 0-0 NSAC) controlled the first 10 minutes of the first half and kept the lead, until Greensboro junior Amillia Huggins would put the Pride ahead for the first time, 23-22, after hitting two free throws. However, the Mustangs did not back down and recaptured the lead on a jumper by sophomore Micah Colburn, then going up by four on free throws by Jeremiah Dickerson and Jajour Lambert. With 4:09 remaining in the half, the Pride’s Grant Thompson got out on the fast break and finished it with a dunk, tying the game again, 30-30. Isaiah Pruett gave Greensboro the lead again when he drained a three-pointer and they would not relinquish it, allowing the Pride to head into the locker room with a seven-point advantage, 42-35.

GC senior Kevon Wright got things started in the second half, with a layup in the paint and on the next possession he followed that up with a three-point basket and then a layup, giving Greensboro its first double digit lead, 49-35.

MACU senior Talik Totten led all scorers with 31 points off of 12-17 shooting 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.

The Mustangs dropped a 79-52 decision to host NC Wesleyan on Friday before notching a home win over Christendom 64-49 on Saturday.

Story courtesy greensborocollegesports.com

Apprentice Holds Off Cheyney

NEWPORT NEWS – Karree Smith led the 7th-ranked Apprentice School men’s basketball team with 19 points Saturday as the Builders held off Cheyney with a stellar defensive effort, 65-53.

After the two teams traded blows through the first seven minutes to get to an 11-11 score, the Builders went on a 10-3 stretch to take the lead for good. Apprentice (3-3 overall, 2-0 NSAC) pushed the lead out to as many as 17 in the first half before the Wolves fought back to trim the lead to single digits midway through the second half.

Cheyney (2-6) got as close as eight points down the stretch, but the Builders answered each time to keep the game at a comfortable margin to get back in the win column.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

  • Apprentice is now 3-0 at home.
  • Caleb Mielewski finished with 11 points as the only other Builder in double figures.
  • The Apprentice defense forced 18 turnovers.

NEXT UP

The Builders will hit the road down to Virginia Wesleyan Monday.

Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com

Mustangs Split First Two Games of Three-Game Weekend

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian fell short in its bid to finally knock off an eastern North Carolina on Friday night, but took a bounce back win at home on Saturday.

USCAA 8th-ranked MACU suffered through a bad shooting performance (30%) at NC Wesleyan 79-52 to begin a three-game weekend. “As a team, we did not shoot well at all from the floor, free throws or from the threes,” Mustangs coach Charles Sims said after the loss. “Too many costly turnovers, forced and unforced, was also a contributing factor. We had moments defensively where we could not get stops, and until we get better defensively as a team against these Division 3 opponents, we will have problems.”

But the Mustangs found their touch in the first half on Saturday afternoon, shooting 48.6% for the half and 42.4% for the game while holding visiting Christendom College to 31% for the game, in a 64-49 win.

“It was a good bounce-back win today,” Sims said. “Christendom never stopped coming at us. Our defense stepped up with a better performance and our shooting percentage improved from Friday night.”

Talik Totten led MACU (4-2 overall, 0-0 NSAC) with 22 points.

The Mustangs wrap up their 3-game weekend on Sunday taking on Greensboro College in the Roger Taylor Invitational at NC Wesleyan in Rocky Mount.

Image courtesy USCAA Sports Network

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.