2021-22 REVIEW: Top 10 moments of the year - No. 2 Basketball makes its presence known immediately in Region 10

After a challenging early season schedule, Gaston College's first Region 10 basketball game came on Saturday Dec. 4 at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington.

With a 7-3 overall record, the Rhinos had built some confidence heading into the matchup against the perennial Region 10 power Sea Devils.

Even as Cape Fear took the early lead, Gaston College took control late in the first half and would build as much as a 12-point second half lead before surviving a late Sea Devils' rally for a 78-75 victory.

Damon Davis had 19 points and seven rebounds, Kalil Camara 15 points, eight rebounds and five steals and Dee Merriweather 12 points to lead coach David "Dickey" Nutt's Rhinos to the victory. The win proved a sign of things to come as Gaston College would finish the season with a league-best 5-2 record in Region 10 road games.

"So proud of the guys today," Nutt said after the game - and after a locker room celebration that was tweeted out on @GCRhinosBB. "We played with some toughness. Our defense was good today.
"I think our team took a huge step today in terms of growing up and understanding just how difficult it is to win on the road. I'm just so incredibly proud of our guys to go out and get a win in conference play on the road."