JMCC’s Doss Named NSAC Coach of the Year

John Melvin Christian College (FL) coach Colin Doss has been named the 2025 New South Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

At age 23, Doss is likely the youngest college head coach in the country, but he has not let “youth and inexperience” slow him down. In his first season, Colin has led the Mohawks to 23-5 regular season record, impressive for any team, but especially eye-opening for a program that did not exist 12 months ago.

JMCC leads USCAA Division 2 in multiple categories including points per game, offensive efficiency, and offensive rebounding margin. Doss’ Mohawks have recorded five wins against top 10 teams and finished the regular season third in the conference standings.

“Colin is ‘number one with a bullet,” said conference commissioner Mike Davis. “Clearly he knows how to build a program from scratch with limited resources and build it to win. But Colin is also a young man of character. My dealings with him have been nothing but pleasant. He always looks for the best in others and brings those around him up. He’s also a talented graphic artist who volunteered his services to the conference on several occasions. I’m proud to have Colin as part of the NSAC.”

Join us in congratulating Colin Doss as the NSAC Coach of the Year!

Brown Repeats as League MVP, Tops All-Conference Team

Lighthouse Christian College junior Eddie Brown is the overwhelming choice of NSAC coaches as the conference’s Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row.

Brown, the 2024 MVP, averaged more than 29 points per game this season, tops in the NSAC, as well as more than four assists in leading the Makos to their second regular season title and an undefeated conference record. He also was named Player of the Week a record five times during the season. Brown received all but one possible first-place vote (coaches cannot vote for their own players) with the others going to Beacon’s Jared Carter and Donovan Means of Apprentice.

Congratulations to Eddie and all members of the NSAC All-Conference Team!

FIRST TEAM

  • Eddie Brown, Lighthouse Christian (MVP) (Six first-place votes)
  • Tyler Camplin, John Melvin Christian College (FL)
  • Jared Carter, Beacon (1)
  • Tayshaun Colomb, John Melvin University (LA)
  • Santiago Insaurralde, Atlantis
  • Ernesto Hichez, Beacon
  • Donovan Means, Apprentice (1)
  • Darion Ramos, John Melvin Christian College (FL)
  • Adrion Wall, Apprentice

SECOND TEAM

  • Sam Benton, Jr., Lighthouse Christian
  • Tyvin Garrison, John Melvin Christian College (FL)
  • Naysean Rhome, Southeast Christian
  • Keith Shakes, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Tyus Williams, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Joshua Wyatt, John Melvin Christian College (FL)
  • Wol Yak, Lighthouse Christian

THIRD TEAM

  • Ethan Barnes, Atlantis
  • Kevin Butler, SC Central
  • Stewart Clough, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Omarion Green, SC Central
  • DaQuan Ramsey, SC Central
  • Jose Rosario, Atlantis
  • Cedric Shelby, SC Central
  • Janus Shepherd, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Karree Smith, Apprentice
  • Karlton Walton, Southeast Christian

Men’s Basketball All-Academic Team Recognized

The New South Athletic Conference is proud to honor the 2025 Men’s Basketball All-Academic Team, comprised off all players who are carrying a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale.

“At the small college level, more than any other college level, academic progress and excellence are still cornerstones of athletic success.” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “That’s why I take special interest in honoring these 53 young men who lead the way in a well-rounded college experience.”

The Apprentice School

  • Clifton Goode
  • Wayne Hedgepeth
  • Chris Hinmon
  • Montrell Jackson
  • Donovan Means

Atlantis University

  • Santiago Inssuarlde
  • Jose Rosario
  • Jatez Ward
  • Artem Sorokin
  • Samuel Jiménez

Beacon College

  • Jovan Bell
  • Jared Carter
  • Bryce Contreras
  • Ernesto Hichez
  • Michael Turner
  • Jordique Vincent
  • Cooper White

John Melvin Christian College (FL)

  • Elijah Berger
  • Dayne Bordelon
  • Arnez Bryant 
  • Tyler Camplin
  • Korey Catchings
  • Tyvin Garrison
  • Nick Gikas
  • Evan Griffin
  • Jaedon Sisk
  • Joshua Steen
  • Javier Valerezo

John Melvin University (LA)

  • Richard Casler
  • Tayshaun Columb
  • Kaimauri Hodges
  • Landen Istre
  • Kyle Roach
  • Nate Smith
  • Deonne Williams

Lighthouse Christian College

  • Michael Ribeiro
  • Akok Shan

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Arius Alston
  • Stewart Clough
  • Elijah Dias
  • Jake Harper
  • Uriah Logan
  • Kaylon Sampson
  • Janus Shepherd
  • Janai Williams
  • Terrance Williams
  • Tyus Williams

South Carolina Central Christian College

  • Kevin Butler
  • Tavion McPherson
  • Henoch Mukendi
  • Cedric Shelby
  • Travis Stroud

Southeast Christian College

  • Calvin Harrigan
  • Lawrence Ruffins III
  • Jordan Stevenson
  • Jaden Victor
  • Marvin Windom

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Seedings, Bracket Set for 2025 Tournament

MILTON, Fl. – With the final conference games of the season in the books, the seedings have been finalized for the 2025 New South Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament beginning this Thursday outside of Pensacola, Florida.

Lighthouse enters the tournament as the top seed for the second consecutive season, this time sporting a perfect 13-0 conference record. The Makos are also the hosts for the event.

Action begins Thursday at 6:00 pm Central time when 8th-seed John Melvin (LA) faces Southeast Christian, the 9th seed. The winner of that game goes on the meet Lighthouse Friday at 7:00 pm Central.

The championship game will tip off Sunday at 2:00 pm Central.

All games will take place at the Lighthouse Gym, 8604 Bobby Brown Road, Milton, Florida, and will be streamed live on the JMU Mohawks Sports Network.

Harrigan’s Career Night Earns POW Honors

Southeast Christian College guard Calvin Harrigan had a breakout performance last Tuesday. The freshman business major from Tavares, Florida had a career-high 21 points, four rebounds, and two steals in the Eagles’ win over URBE University. He also carries a 3.75 GPA. For his outstanding work, Calvin has been named the NSAC Player of the Week!

Congrats, Calvin!

S4C Holds off Southeast to Lock in 5th Seed

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Central Christian held off a second-half rally by Southeast Christian to win 76-70 Sunday afternoon and clinch the 5th seed in the upcoming NSAC men’s basketball tournament. It was the final regular season game for both squads.

The Gladiators (3-10 overall, 3-2 NSAC) never trailed and held a 49-43 lead at the half, increasing the margin to as many as 18 points in the second half. The visiting Eagles (4-21, 1-14) regrouped and staged a comeback, cutting the lead to one but could not close the deal.

S4C’s Kevin Butler led the Glads with 22 points with Daquan Ramen adding 19. Southeast’s Naysean Rhome led all scorers with 28.

Lighthouse Overpowers JMCC to Clinch NSAC Top Seed

MILTON, Fl. – Lighthouse Christian got a combined 71 points from Eddie Brown and Wol Yak to down John Melvin (FL) 114-105 Thursday night and clinch the top seed in the NSAC men’s basketball tournament for the second consecutive year.

Yak led all scorers with 36 points, 25 of them coming in the second half. Brown followed with 35 points. Darion Ramos led the Mohawks with 27.

With the win, Lighthouse (23-2 overall, 12-0 NSAC) locks up the top spot for next week’s tournament, which it will host.

The loss drops JMCC (22-4, 10-2) to third, but several games between now and Monday will impact the standings between seeds 2-4.

JMCC and Lighthouse will meet again on Monday, February 24.

Image courtesy Lighthouse Athletics

Beacon Forfeits Four Games Due to Ineligible Player

The USCAA has informed Beacon College that it must forfeit four men’s basketball games, including wins over Lighthouse and John Melvin (LA), due to the use of an ineligible player.

The games included all three NSAC contests during the Leesburg Classic in January, plus a non-conference contest against Trinity College of Florida. Beacon had recorded wins in three of the four games.

“We affirm the importance of upholding the integrity of intercollegiate competition and appreciate the guidance of the USCAA in ensuring compliance with its regulations,” Beacon president Dr. George Hagerty stated in an email to the effected schools and the NSAC.

“We appreciate Beacon’s commitment to fairness and sportsmanship,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Their administration was forthcoming and open throughout the process, and that does not go unappreciated.”

The forfeits mean Beacon drops to 3-7 and 7th place in conference play. It also erases Lighthouse’s only conference loss, propelling the Makos atop the standings with a two-game series against second-place John Melvin (FL) taking place over the next five days to close out the regular season.

Mustangs Knock Off Builders in OT 81-76

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Mid-Atlantic Christian forward Stewart Clough drained a 3-point shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, then teammate Keith Shakes, Jr. scored eight of the Mustangs’ 14 points in the bonus period to lead MACU to an 81-76 win over Apprentice Monday night.

The visitors jumped out to an 8-0 lead early before the Builders were able to get on the scoreboard. MACU (13-11 overall, 6-1 NSAC) led all but 1:47 of the first half to take a 28-26 lead into intermission.

Apprentice (14-5, 5-2) held most of the momentum out of the halftime break after Donovan Means hit a three right at the end of the first half, but the Mustangs never went away, answering every Builder run. AS led by as many as nine in the second half and led by three with eight seconds left when Clough hit a three from the left wing as time expired in regulation to force overtime, tied at 67-67.

In the extra period, MACU took the momentum and burst out to a 74-69 lead. Apprentice tied the game up moments later at 74-74 before a 7-2 run for MACU sealed the deal.

“We needed this,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “This was a total team effort. All the players left it on the floor tonight. Their effort was incredible tonight. We stayed focused and achieved what we needed to accomplish. Our team free throws during the overtime was the difference.”

Shakes led the Herd with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Clough followed with 14 and eight, respectively. Keondre Rodgers and Tyus Williams had 11 points apiece.

The Builders were led by Donovan Means with 23 points.

Much like last week’s contest between the two rivals in Elizabeth City, this one saw nine ties and 10 lead changes. AS came out on top in the February 12 game, 74-66.

The game marked the first win ever by the Mustangs over the Builders in Newport News and ends a 10-game losing streak in the series.

With the win, MACU clinches finishing no lower than third in the NSAC standings with one conference game remaining against Central International next Monday, February 24. The Mustangs could move up to second if either John Melvin (FL) or Lighthouse sweep their two-game series to be played this week. Apprentice has locked up fourth place.

Thanks to Walker McCrary at Apprentice Athletics for his help with this story. Image courtesy MACU Athletics.

What We Know with One Week to Go

We have just one week (eight days actually, if you count today, but I digress) until the 2024-25 NSAC men’s basketball regular season comes to a close, thereby completing the seedings for the tournament, AND YET there are still questions to be answered! It’s been that kind of a ride. But here’s what we DO KNOW as of today:

  1. The top four spots are a crap shoot. John Melvin (FL) and Lighthouse are tied for first and are scheduled to play twice this week. Apprentice and MACU are tied for third with the Builders holding the tiebreaker, but these two teams will also play TONIGHT in Newport News, so that tiebreaker is a moot point. Suffice it to say, the three remaining games among these four will settle the order, with various combinations of wins and losses determining the top four seeds, but none of them can fall lower than fourth. So there.
  2. Beacon and SC Central are tied for fifth, but the Blazers’ conference schedule is complete while the Gladiators host Southeast Christian next Sunday. If S4C wins, it will claim fifth outright and Beacon will fall to sixth. Vice versa if Southeast wins. More on that in a moment.
  3. Atlantis is locked into seventh. Thus it has been decreed, thus it shall be.
  4. JMU (LA) is eighth, and Southeast is ninth, regardless if the Eagles win in South Carolina next weekend. Thus, the Millers and Eagles will face off in the lone first round game on Thursday, February 27 for the right to tackle the top seed the following day. Talk about incentive.

And there you have it. The picture at the top will start to clear a bit once tonight’s Battle in the Bay is over and attention turns to the first of two Pensacola Pileups. Gosh, this is fun.

Photo by Thomas T on Unsplash