Gaston College faces another ranked team in Davidson-Davie Thanksgiving Classic

In Gaston College's return to basketball, the Rhinos have played four teams with national rankings, including the last earlier this season.

They'll make it four this weekend in the first game of back-to-back matchups in the Davidson-Davie Thanksgiving Classic when they face perennial power Henry Ford College, Michigan.

The Hawks have made the Elite 8 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II tournament the last three years, including a sixth-place finish in the 2023 national championship tournament.

This season, Henry Ford was ranked No. 2 in the national preseason Division II and is currently No. 6 entering this weekend's tournament.

"I have a great deal of respect for what they've done," Gaston College interim coach Jermaine Williams said of the Hawks, whom the Rhinos will face at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Gaston College plays again at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday in the final day of the event against Montgomery College, Maryland.

The Rhinos have previously met two nationally-ranked teams two times each in their three-year history as a program.

Gaston College faced current No. 1 Division I team Northwest Florida State when the Raiders were in the national rankings early in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons and hosted Davidson-Davie Community College in the second game of this season.

Davidson-Davie, which hosts this weekend's tournament, was No. 4 when it played Gaston College at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School on Dec. 8.

The Rhinos are 0-4 all time against ranked teams.

Gaston College takes a 3-2 record into this weekend's games after an 82-69 win at Cleveland Community College last Thursday.

"We'll give them two days off and then we're coming back and playing some powerhouses," Williams said. "Henry Ford was ranked No. 2 in Division II preseason poll and then we've got a back-to-back the next day playing Montgomery."

Through five games, Tyheim Love (14.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists), Asil Hoyle (13.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists), Michael Smith (12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds), Kush Carter (11.6 points, 3.9 rebounds), Jamal Ukaegbu (9.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists), Judah Ravenell (9.0 points, 4.8 rebounds), Jalante Edwards (5.6 points, 3.8 rebounds) and Ajaden Gray (4.6 points, 3.2 rebounds) have led a balanced Gaston College attack.

"The identity I want to have is teamwork, playing together and being tough on defense," Williams said. "Offensively, I want us to keep sharing the ball and get better on their skill development. If we can make layups, hit open shots, make our free throws and play tough D, I'll be happy."

-Rhinos all time vs. ranked teams

Nov. 20, 2021 at No. 10 Northwest Florida State (Lost 70-85)
Dec. 2, 2022 at receiving votes Northwest Florida State (Lost 53-98)
Feb. 20, 2023 at No. 1 Division II Davidson-Davie CC (Lost 64-91)
Nov. 8, 2023 vs. No. 4 Division II Davidson-Davie CC (Lost 69-92)