No. 17 Caldwell Tech too much for Gaston College in Region 10 contest

Facing the No. 17 team in the current National Junior College Athletic Association poll left little margin for error for Gaston College.

The Rhinos battled visiting Caldwell Tech on even terms for several moments in each half before falling 91-66 on Wednesday night at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School gymnasium.

"I'm determined to find the positives while also knowing we've got to win two more games," Gaston College interim coach Jermaine Williams said. "I know we can do it."

The Rhinos (9-17 overall, 2-11 Region 10) need to win two games of their last three Region 10 contests in order to get out of last place in the nine-team league and make the eight-team postseason tournament field.

"We do some good things but we aren't always able to sustain it," Williams said. "And against a team like Caldwell Tech, we just have to be better."

The visiting Cobras hit nine more 3-pointers on Wednesday to give them a league-best 231 in their 25 games this season. It also was Caldwell Tech's 19th straight victory - a streak that dates to Thanksgiving weekend 2023.

After falling behind 11-4 in the first four minutes, the Rhinos closed within a single point at 17-16, 25-24 and 27-26 before the Cobras closed the half on a 10-1 surge for a 37-27 lead at the break.

In the second half, that surge continued and Caldwell Tech was ahead 58-35 with 13:01 left before Gaston College got within 65-56 with 7:38 to play.

But the Rhinos struggled down the stretch as the Cobras closed the game on a 26-10 surge for a 25-point victory.

Asil Hoyle (16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists), Yarayah Evans (12 points, 7 rebounds), Jamal Ukaegbu (10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Tyheim Love (9 points), Judah Ravenell (8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) and Ajaden Gray (4 points, 3 rebounds, 4 blocks) led Gaston College.

The Rhinos are off for a week before returning to action in the final Region 10 road game of the year at USC Salkehatchie on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.