Gaston College wins 5th straight behind first 30-point game since 2022

This preseason, NCAA Division I coaches were frequent visitors to Gaston College basketball practices.

Many were there to see 6-foot-2 sophomore point guard Jordan Brown.

Kept out of the season-opener by injury and slowed for the next few games, Brown keeps getting healthier and healthier.

On Monday night in a 103-86 win over Guilford Tech at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School, Brown also had one of the best games in school history as he scored 31 points to become Gaston College's first player to reach 30 points game in a game since February 2022.

"That's what we saw the whole preseason," first-year Rhinos coach Benny Moss said of Brown. "Those high ankle sprains are tough.
"I thought we did a good job of working him back easy in the first few games and not overdoing it. He said after the second half (on Saturday) that he felt normal and comfortable. And he obviously played really well today."

Brown hit his first five shots from the field and finished 10 of 13 overall (six of eight on 3-pointers) while making five of six free throws for 31 points to go with six rebounds and three assists.

Sophomore Tyheim Love (14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), freshman Jozohn Price (12 points, 4 rebounds), sophomore Judah Ravenell (11 points, 6 rebounds), freshman Kayleb Coles (9 points, 3 rebounds), freshman Ryan Evans (9 points, 6 rebounds) and freshman Kyhree McAlister (6 points, 4 rebounds) led the Rhinos.

Gaston College took charge late in the first half after the visiting Titans had brief leads - the last at 27-25 with 8:40 left in the half.

The Rhinos closed the opening half on a 24-10 surge and built the lead to 20 points (63-43) four minutes into the second half and led by as many as 27 points before taking the 17-point victory.

The win improved Gaston College to 5-1 after losing their season-opener 89-83 at unbeaten (and nationally top-ranked) NJCAA Division II Davidson-Davie Community College.

"It's a busy week," Moss said. "We've got a big one coming up on Wednesday and I thought we did a good job of playing a lot of different guys a lot of minutes, so hopefully we'll be fresh for Wednesday."

Gaston College visits nearby Cleveland Community College on Wednesday at 6 p.m. then returns home on Sunday at 2 p.m. against the Catawba College developmental team at Ashbrook.