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.

Southern Virginia Holds Off Apprentice

BUENA VISTA, Va. – Perhaps the turkey had not had time to wear off for the Builders. Regardless, Apprentice fell behind early and tied the game, but could not overtake Southern Virginia, eventually falling 80-71 in a non-conference matchup on Saturday.

Southern Virginia (3-3) would hold Apprentice scoreless in the first three-and-a-half minutes of the game, jumping out to an early 8-0 advantage. After the slow start, the Builders would catch fire, going on a 10-2 run to tie the game in the early stages of the first half. The tie was the closest the game would be, with the Builders never leading in the match.

Although Apprentice (2-2 overall, 2-0 NSAC) never held an advantage, it would not go away without a fight, cutting the deficit to two with just over three minutes remaining in the first half. Both defenses would lock down in the closing minutes of the first stanza with the only points coming from the Knights, who would score just four points in the final four minutes, including a Baker driving layup as time expired to give his team a six point lead at the break.

In the second 20 minutes, Southern Virginia looked to run away with the game but Apprentice held its ground.

A Brian Tapia three-pointer would stretch the Knights’ lead to 16, the largest of the game, with just over six minutes on the clock. The Builders did their best to battle back, but the advantage proved to be too much and the game ended with a score of 80-71 in favor of the Knights, who shot an impressive 60 percent from the field in the second half.

SVU’s Malakai Olson led all scorers with 21 points. Alvin Hawkins led Apprentice with 17.

This was the third-ever meeting between the programs with the Builders winning the first matchup in 2018 and the Knights evening the series last season, winning 77-66 in Knight Arena.

Story and image courtesy knightathletics.com

Thoroughbreds Weather Centurion Rally, 111-102

APEX, N.C. – Blue Lights College ran out to an early 22-point lead, then survived the anticipated Carolina Christian comeback for its first win of the season, 111-102 in Apex, NC on Tuesday night.

The Thoroughbreds came out of the gate clicking with their fast-break offense scoring at will, and led 28-6 just 7:20 into the game. It was then that CCC settled into its game and began the long, methodical road back, closing the gap to within seven before settling for a 48-38 halftime deficit.

But the Centurions weren’t done. After the break, junior forward Daishawn George led CCC back with his work in the paint and the Centurions took their first lead, 94-93, with 3:40 remaining. The two teams would trade the lead two more times before the Horses would finally manage the clock and claim their first NSAC win.

“This was a really great test for us,” Blue Lights coach Nolan Adams said. “I told the guys this week that Carolina Christian would not go away, whether they were down 20 or 40, up or down, they would keep coming at us, and they did. They’re super well-coached and they work super hard, and they kept coming at us for 40 minutes. We were able to withstand the run and make a bigger run of our own, and we were able to put the game away.”

BLC (1-2 overall, 1-1 NSAC) needed another outstanding performance by freshman forward Wol Yak to get its first conference win. Yak finished with 42 points, including 26 in the second half, along with 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 2 assists. Frontcourt mate Keyshawn Bryant recorded a double-double with 22 points and 18 boards. Freshman point guard Sam Benton added 24 points.

Carolina Christian dropped to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in New South play.

Mustangs Rout Crusaders 111-66

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian sprinted to a 13-0 lead in its home opener and never looked back in running away from The Crown College (TN) 111-66 in men’s basketball Saturday afternoon.

“The team came out focused and on a mission for today’s game,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “We were able to set the tone and control tempo of the game from the onset. Each player knew what was expected and followed the game plan to precision.”

MACU (3-1 overall, 0-0 NSAC) shot 55.6% for the game and scored 38 points off turnovers while holding Crown (1-4) to just 6.

Senior guard Talik Totten led the scoring with 31 points while shooting a blistering 13 of 15 from the field (86.6%), including 5 of 6 from beyond the arc. Noah Richardson-Keys added 16, Micah Coburn contributed 14, and three other Mustangs added 13 points each in a game where every MACU player but one got into the scoring column. Justin Barrett led the Royal Crusaders with 14.

In spite of the 45-point final margin, Sims says the Herd has room for improvement. “We still have work to do in certain areas of the game to really reach our full potential. Until we achieve that, we will not be satisfied,” added Sims.

Mustangs Fall to NCCU

DURHAM – Mid-Atlantic Christian suffered its first official loss of the season Tuesday night 109-50 at NCAA D1 NC Central.

“This game has some positives for us to take away,” said MACU coach Charles Sims after the loss in Durham. “The team never stopped fighting against this Division 1 opponent. Games like these just prepare us for our upcoming games.”

Senior guard Talik Totten led MACU (2-1) with 13 points, and freshman forward Noah Richardson-Keys provided 11 points for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs return to Elizabeth City to face Crown College (TN) on Saturday at noon. “I’m looking forward to see the team bounce back and play our home opener,” added Sims.