MACU Outlasts JMCC 88-75 in NSAC Semis

MILTON, Fla. – Keith Shakes, Jr. scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Tyus Williams was right behind with 22 and 11 respectively, as 2nd-seed Mid-Atlantic Christian defeated 3rd-seed John Melvin (FL) 88-75 Saturday afternoon in the NSAC men’s basketball semifinals.

The Mustangs jumped out fast, running to a 46-30 halftime lead from which the Mohawks were never able to recover.

Josh Wyatt and Darion Ramos each carded 16 points to lead JMCC.

With the win, MACU advances to its first NSAC championship game since 2021 to face top-seed Lighthouse at 3:00 pm Eastern/2:00 pm Central time on Sunday. The game will be streamed live on the JMU Mohawks Sports Network.

Image courtesy MACU Athletics.

Seeds Hold in Quarterfinals, Semis Set for Today

MILTON, Fla. – The top four seeds in the 2025 NSAC Men’s Basketball Tournament held serve on Friday, leading to what promises to be an exciting pair of games today.

In Friday’s first matchup, 3rd-seed John Melvin (FL) held off 6th-seeded Atlantis 67-64. The Atlanteans had the ball with under five seconds to play but could not connect on a shot to tie.

Second-seed Mid-Atlantic Christian kept upset-minded Beacon at bay 88-83.

Apprentice, the 4th seed, cruised to a 102-71 victory over SC Central Christian in the day’s third game. The Builders set a new program record for rebounds in a game, pulling down 74.

In the nightcap, top-seeded Lighthouse Christian struggled with upstart Southeast Christian, the 9th seed, for most of the first half before pulling away for a 93-66 win.

That sets up Saturday’s bracket as the Mustangs and Mohawks will meet at 2:00 pm Eastern/1:00 pm Central, followed by the Makos and Builders in a rematch of last year’s championship. That game is set to tip off at 4:00 pm Eastern/3:00 pm Central. The winners will advance to meet for the title Sunday at 3:00 pm Eastern/2:00 pm Central time.

All games are being streamed live at Channel One – JMU-Mohawks

Southeast Opens Tourney with Win over JMU 77-63

MILTON, Fla. – Naysean Rhome poured in 20 points and Marvin Windom had 6 blocks as Southeast Christian knocked off John Melvin (LA) 77-63 in the first round of the 2025 NSAC men’s basketball tournament Thursday night.

JMU led 37-32 after a back-and-forth first half, but the Eagles pulled away after intermission as Rhome came alive with 18 of his points and Windom swatting four of his six blocks in the second half. SECC outscored the Millers 45-26 in the second stanza for the win.

JMU’s Tayshaun Colomb led all scorers with 22 points.

Southeast advances to meet top-seed Lighthouse Christian in the quarterfinals Friday night.

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.

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