2021-22 REVIEW: Top 10 moments of the year - No. 9 Playing the eventual national champion

When Gaston College restarted its basketball program, head coach David "Dickey" Nutt and associate head coach Jamie Rosser knew they were in the ultra-competitive Region 10.

But they also wanted the Rhinos to face some solid non-conference opponents before they began league play.

With that in mind, Gaston College slated a visit to perennial power Northwest Florida State.

Ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA preseason poll, the Raiders would eventually win the national championship with a 31-5 record and a roster that included five NCAA Division I signees on their roster.

When Northwest Florida hosted Gaston College, it never trailed but wasn't able to put the Rhinos away until late in the second half as Dee Merriweather hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 25 points and DaMarco Watson had 18 points.

"We played a game the day before against Tallahassee," said Jamie Rosser, the associate head coach who was hired in May as Gaston College's head coach. "And we were right there with them throughout the game. We knew right away that their program was at a high level. They have beautiful facilities. They had great players that had transferred from Division I programs. Their level as far as environment set them apart - and they had high level players."