Gaston College basketball holds home opener on Wednesday at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School

Gaston College's basketball program holds its 2024-25 home opener on Wednesday against Patrick & Henry Community College at 7:30 p.m. at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

The Rhinos are coming off a heartbreaking 89-83 loss at No. 1-ranked Davidson-Davie Community College on Saturday in the head coaching debut of Benny Moss.

Moss, a former head coach at two NCAA Division I programs, had Gaston College in position to knock off the five-time Region 10 Division II champions before falling.

In Patrick & Henry, the Rhinos are meeting a program that was ranked in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll a year ago when it finished 14-11 overall with two forfeit losses due to using an ineligible player. One of those forfeit losses came to Gaston College in a Nov. 10, 2023 early-season doubleheader game at Hickory's Catawba Valley Community College.

"It's a great opportunity for us and it's a quality opponent that we're playing at home," Moss said.

In the season-opening loss, six Gaston College players scored in double figures on a day in which the Rhinos most highly-recruited player (sophomore guard Jordan Brown) and top frontline reserve (Ben Stevens) were out due to injuries.

Sophomore Tyheim Love (17 points, 4 rebounds), freshman Landon Sprouse (16 points, 4 rebounds), freshman E.J. Joyner (15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists), freshman Ryan Evans (13 points, 15 rebounds), Jozohn Price (12 points, 5 rebounds) and Judah Ravenell (10 points, 4 rebounds) led a balanced attack in which 11 players saw action.

The Rhinos led 12-4 lead after the game's first 4 1/2 minutes, trailed 45-40 at the half then rallied to close within 82-81 with 1:07 to play after rallying back from a 13-point deficit. It was a game that lasted 2 1/2 hours and was slowed by 58 total fouls (with four players fouling out) and 80 total free throws.

"We're looking to bounce back from a tough loss at the No. 1 team in the country," Moss said.

Wednesday's home opener is the first of four home games at the Ashbrook gymnasium in 13 days as Gaston College will also host the Pfeiffer junior varsity on Saturday at 2 p.m., Virginia Peninsula Community College on Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. and Guilford Tech on Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.