Gaston College basketball wins, has its first 10-game winning streak in 53 years

Gaston College has its first 10-game winning streak in 53 years after Sunday's workmanlike 84-65 victory over the Newberry developmental team at that school's Eleazer Arena.

The Rhinos improved to 10-1 with their 10th straight win since losing at No. 1-ranked Davidson-Davie Community College on Nov. 2 in their 2024-25 season opener.

"It feels good," first-year Gaston College coach Benny Moss said. "I'm happy for the guys because they're working hard every day to get better. They're staying focused one game at a time. If we can continue to stay focused on the process and not the results, I think the results will continue to follow."

The Rhinos trailed briefly in the first half before nine straight points gave them a 19-11 lead with 10:41 left in the opening half. Newberry would close within 31-30 late in the first half before Gaston College scored the final six points of the half and the first two of the second half for a 39-30 lead.

Newberry got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Freshman Spencer Breeden (14 points, 3 rebounds), sophomore Jordan Brown (12 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists), freshman E.J. Joyner (12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), sophomore Judah Ravenell (11 points, 6 rebounds), freshman Ryan Evans (8 points, 3 rebounds), sophomore Tyheim Love (6 points), freshman Ben Stevens (5 points, 4 rebounds) and freshman Landon Sprouse (5 points) led another balanced Rhinos' attack.

Stevens, who missed the first eight games of the season due to injury, came on after freshman post player Jozohn Price injured his ankle late in the first half.

"Ben stepped up and gave us some really good minutes," Moss said. "And I think Jordan and E.J. both played a good floor game. They scored when they needed to score and kept their teammates involved."

The 10-game winning streak is the fourth in school history; Gaston College won a record 17 straight in the 1969-70 season, 14 straight in the 1971-72 season that was its last in athletics until 2021-22 and 10 straight in the 1966-67 season.

The Rhinos now close out the first semester with 2 p.m. home game next Sunday against Cleveland Community College at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School and a Dec. 18 game at 6 p.m. at Virginia Peninsula Community College.