Gaston College loses at unbeaten Combine Academy

Facing unbeaten Combine Academy's post grad basketball team on Tuesday afternoon at their Lincolnton campus, Gaston College needed a solid all-around effort.

And while the Rhinos took leads in each half, they could never get enough defensive stops to hold off the host Goats in an 82-69 victory.

"It's just frustrating," Gaston College interim head coach Jermaine Williams said. "It hurts me to lose. Every fiber in my body is hurting right now because we lost.
"But then I start thinking, 'What do I have to do to get the guys better?'"

The Rhinos (4-6) return to action on Saturday for their final home game of the first semester against Double Exposure Hoops Academy at 3 p.m. at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School gymnasium.

In Tuesday's game, Gaston College led by as many as three points at 11-8 with 15:02 left in the first half and was tied at 26 at the 4:42 mark of the opening half before falling behind 42-36 at halftime.

In the second half, the Rhinos were ahead 47-45 with 16:17 to play before the Goats went on a 15-3 surge over the next five minutes to take charge of the contest. Gaston College got no closer than five after that surge gave Combine Academy a 60-50 lead.

"We've got to be tougher both mentally and physically," Williams said. "We took the lead for a play or two and then we just don't get the stops for us to sustain the lead.
"It goes back to, 'How do we get better?' I'm up for the challenge. We'll go back to work tomorrow using the game today to help pave the way for us to get better."

Asil Hoyle (19 points, 3 assists), Jamal Ukaegbu (17 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists), Judah Ravenell (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) and Ajaden Gray (5 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocked shots) led the Rhinos' balanced attack.

Jamil Miller's game-high 22 points led Combine Academy (11-0).