Blue Lights College freshman Kalil Baker led the Thoroughbreds to a three-win week and has been honored as the NSAC Player of the Week.
Baker averaged 28 points and seven rebounds while adding 3.3 assists per game in wins over Morris, Touro and Five Towns. The Rocky Mount, North Carolina forward is averaging 30.75 points per game on the season in helping BLC to its first 4-0 start in program history.
Congratulations to Kalil Baker, the NSAC Player of the Week!
ALBANY, N.Y.– Bryant & Stratton Albany fought hard, but couldn’t catch up in their home opener against Atlantis, falling 73-56 on Tuesday night.
Atlantis (2-1) hit the ground running and by the end of the first half, the spread was 38-26. The Bobcats (1-1) had a much stronger second half and cut the deficit to five, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Atlanteans.
“Atlantis is a very physical and energetic team who we did not match the intensity with,” Bobcats coach Mike Shewmaker said following the game. “We need to start valuing the basketball and handling defensive pressure. We can’t keep letting other teams dictate the pace of play. They beat us start to finish.”
Atlantis continues its New York road trip tonight at Bryant & Stratton Syracuse. B&S Albany and Atlantis will meet again on Thursday.
Story and image courtesy bscbobcats.com
DURHAM, N.C. – Redshirt senior Ja’Darius Harris and junior Keishon Porter lit up McDougald-McLendon Arena from distance, combining for seven three-pointers in NCCU’s 113-50 victory over Mid-Atlantic Christian in an exhibition game Tuesday evening.
Sophomore forward Joshua Tyler led the Mustangs with 15 points.
“Our goal was to work on our defense and score 50 points,” MACU coach Charles Sims said after the game. “We did that. One of their players said to me, ‘You’re changing the defense every time down the floor.’ I told him, ‘ We have to keep you on your toes.'”
“Our guys know that this is a process. We’re not where we want to be, but we’re in a good place,” said Sims.
The Mustangs (1-2 overall, 1-0 NSAC) face cross-town rival Elizabeth City State tonight.
Story details courtesy nccueaglepride.com; image courtesy gomacumustangs.com
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. – Angel Pacheco-Ortiz recorded a double-double as the Apprentice School men’s basketball team pushed past Mountain Gateway Community College Saturday afternoon 73-58.
The Builders led wire-to-wire, starting the game with an 8-0 run and never looking back. Apprentice held the Roadrunners scoreless through the first 5:21 of the game in their home gym and stretched the lead to as many as 19 by halftime.
MGCC came back in the second half, cutting the lead down to as few as six with just under four minutes to go, but the Builders finished the final four minutes on a 13-2 run to put the game away.
Pacheco-Ortiz finished with 12 points and 11 boards to lead 12 Builders who put points in the scoring column. He was the only Builder to finish with double figures.
Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian’s long-range game was the difference maker Tuesday night as the Mustangs put away Central International 101-77 in the NSAC Tipoff Classic.
The Mustangs (1-1 overall, 1-0 NSAC) shot 46.7% (14 of 30) from beyond the arc, almost as good as they did from the floor overall (46.8%). The Cardinals (3-2, 0-1) shot a good 50% from the floor, but only mustered 3 of 14 (21.4%) from three.
MACU opened on a 9-0 run before CIC got on the board, then stretched the lead to as much as 16 before intermission. Central used a 12-2 run to claw back in the second half, trimming the lead to 64-60 with less than 12 minutes to play, but could get no closer as the Herd used a 14-3 run of its own to put the game away.
“Today’s game was good for the players as they came together collectively as a group to achieve the first home game victory,” MACU coach Charles Sims said after the game. “From the onset they made up in their minds that this game was going to be a statement game. We still have areas of the game that we need to improve in, too. We will continue to take the approach of one game at a time mentality.”
Junior Carlos Raven led the Mustangs with 21 points, while CIC’s Sincere Moore led all scorers with 24.
Image courtesy USCAA Sports Network/MACU
Central International and Mid-Atlantic Christian hook up in the first NSAC game of the season Wednesday night in the NSAC Tipoff Classic at Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
With CIC just making the move from Chester to Waverly, Virginia, Cardinals coach Wayne Johnson is taking a long-term approach to the contest. “We’re trying to make sure we build as the season progresses and stay focused and disciplined, and understand the big picture is later, not necessarily right now,” said Johnson. However, the Cards have tasted some early season success, already taking a pre-season tourney title and sporting a 3-1 record.
“We’re excited about this season,” said Mustangs coach Charles Sims. “CIC will be a good early season test for us in the NSAC.” MACU is coming off a 97-91 opening loss at Carolina University on Saturday and an exhibition loss at Liberty Monday night.
Donovan Means of Apprentice is being recognized as the first men’s basketball Player of the Week for 2023-24 by the New South Conference.
The 6’3″ freshman guard from Chesterfield, Virginia made an immediate impact leading the Builders in their first two matches of the season, averaging 19.5 points, 3 steals per game, was 5-10 from 3, and 10-11 from the free throw line for the weekend’s action.
Congratulations to Donovan Means, the NSAC Player of the Week!
MONT ALTO, Pa. – Freshman Donovan Means averaged 19.5 points per game as the Apprentice School men’s basketball team opened up the 2023-24 season with a split at this weekend’s Benchoff Tournament, hosted by Penn State Mont Alto.
GAME ONE – PSU York 79, Apprentice 70
PSU York jumped out to an early 14-10 lead before the Builders went on an 11-0 run over a four minute span to take a 21-14 lead with 8:20 to go in the first half. The Nittany Lions answered right back, scoring the next seven to tie things up at 21-21.
After the teams traded baskets, York reeled off a 15-2 run to take a 38-25 lead with just over 90 seconds to go before halftime. Although Apprentice pulled the deficit down to eight at one point, the Nittany Lions hit a three late in the half to take an 11 point lead into intermission.
York came out on fire in the second half, stretching their lead to as many as 23 before the Builders were able to bring it back to a seven point game midway through the second half. Apprentice could get no closer as the lead hovered around seven for the final stretch of the game.
Means finished with a game-high 23 points, while five York players ended in double figures.
GAME TWO – Apprentice 66, PSU Mont Alto 58
Saturday’s game was back-and-forth early until the Builders started to pull away at the 6:08 mark when they started an 8-0 run that extended a two-point game to a 28-18 lead for Apprentice with 3:03 to play before halftime. Mont Alto trimmed the lead back down to four, but the Builders added two baskets late in the period to take a 34-26 lead to the locker room at halftime.
The Nittany Lions cut the lead to three early in the second half, but Apprentice answered with a 10-0 run that spanned 4:36 of the half to take a 13-point lead. Mont Alto cut the lead down to as few as two points with 1:53 left, but Apprentice scored the final six points of the game to earn their first win of the season.
Means again had a game-high 16 points, while Angel Pacheco-Ortiz finished with a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards. Karree Smith also had 14 points, and Tony Epps, Jr. had 11 points, including three three-pointers.
Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com
The league coaches have spoken and chosen Apprentice as the overwhelming choice to repeat as NSAC men’s basketball champions.
The Builders garnered 5 of the 6 first-place votes, the most possible. NSAC newcomer Atlantis was tabbed to finish second with Mid-Atlantic Christian and Blue Lights College close behind. Central International and Lighthouse Christian, the other new NSAC member, tied for fifth:
Comments from coaches:
“Apprentice – the defending champs – brought back a lot of experience and added some very talented players. They were one possession away from the national championship game last year so I expect them to be formidable to say the least.”
“The conference is extremely strong this season. Apprentice, MACU, Blue Lights and Atlantis all return key players from last season and have enhanced their rosters with strong recruiting classes. CIC and Lighthouse are somewhat of mysteries but should have talent that will give them the opportunity to make a run in the NSAC Tournament.”
“I’m really looking forward to conference play this season. The NSAC is looking strong once again, with 3 of our conference’s teams being voted preseason top 10 in the USCAA, I think we are poised for a very competitive schedule.”
“The NSAC is a power conference.”
“Atlantis and Lighthouse are great additions to our conference. Lighthouse is a young program on the rise and they’re going to be looking to make some noise here. Atlantis is coming off a strong 16-win season and they have been hitting the recruiting trail hard to bolster their roster. I think they’re going to have a very strong showing in their first year in the conference.”
“CIC is a little bit of a wild card since there wasn’t a full season last year for Coach Wayne and his troops, but one thing is for sure: they’ll be well coached and ready to battle come tip off.”
“Coach Sims at MACU has had a full year to bring in his own guys and I have heard great things about MACU so far this preseason. They’re gunning for the top spot, no doubt.”
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Apprentice School men’s basketball team, fresh off its NSAC championship, earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming USCAA National Championship to be contested in Richmond, Virginia, March 12-16, the national office announced Sunday afternoon.
The Builders will take on sixth-seed MUW Monday, March 13, at 4 p.m. at Richard Bland College. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
Paul Quinn earned the top seed with Bryant & Stratton (Buffalo) named number 2. Salem was the No. 4 seed and will take on fifth-seeded Bryant & Stratton (Syracuse). Atlantis claimed the seventh seed, while Bluefield State was the last team in at No. 8.
This is the third straight tournament berth for Apprentice.
Tickets for the tournament may be purchased here.
Story and image courtesy gobuilders.com
