Gaston College can't stop Brunswick rally in home Region 10 loss

A strong first half wasn't enough for Gaston College on Sunday afternoon at the Ashbrook High gymnasium as Brunswick Community College rallied from behind to take a 72-70 Region 10 victory.

The Rhinos, who fell to 0-2 and 6-9, had a game-high 18-point lead at 45-27 at halftime.

But the Dolphins (1-1, 10-7) scored the first 12 points of the second half, would eventually catch Gaston College at 67-all before scoring the game-winning basket on a follow shot with 7.2 seconds left.

"Just not mentally and physically tough enough," Gaston College interim head coach Jermaine Williams said. "We acted like the game was over at halftime and we didn't seize control of the opportunity.
"But it was game two (of Region 10 play) and it was better than game one. Coaches will be on the drawing board to get better. And we'll get better."

The Rhinos were led by Tyheim Love (18 points, 4 rebounds), Judah Ravenell (13 points, 7 rebounds), Kush Carter (9 points), Asil Hoyle (9 points, 6 assists), Yarayah Evans (9 points, 7 rebounds), Jamal Ukaegbu (7 points, 5 rebounds) and Jalante Edwards (3 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists).

Gaston College had withstood the first Dolphins' charge that cut the halftime lead from 45-27 to 45-39 by pushing the lead to 50-39.

But Brunswick Community College, under the direction of the second-winningest Region 10 coach in history in Walter Shaw (457 victories), kept getting closer and closer.

Finally, after a Love 3-pointer with 22.9 seconds left tied the score at 70, the Dolphins got the game-winner after the Rhinos' defense forced a missed drive to the basket but Brunswick Community College turned one of its 10 offensive rebounds into a game-winning follow shot.

"We got the stop and didn't collectively do the part of finishing out the play," Williams said. "We have to have a team effort on every play. Hats off to Brunswick for wanting it more than us unfortunately."

Gaston College is now off until Saturday's 3 p.m. home game against defending Region 10 champion Cape Fear Community College at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

With six days off between games, Williams says the team will refocus its attention on the rest of the league schedule.

"It's like a 2.0 training camp," Williams said. "We know what we're up against as far as conference play goes. Nobody's going to the give us anything. We want the leadership to be on the same page as the coaches and have the utmost sense of urgency to do what it takes to win games. 'All in' and 'In it to win it' is the mindset."