Gaston College extends winning streak to 12 games, off to fastest start since 1967

Gaston College's basketball team closed out the first semester schedule of its 2024-25 season on a 12-game winning streak and the second best start in school history.

The Rhinos went on the road to rally past Virginia Peninsula Community College 79-75 on Wednesday night.

Gaston College (12-1) took its third victory of the season after falling behind by double figures and their 12-1 start is only surpassed by the 14-0 start in the 1966-67 season when current Florida State head basketball coach Leonard Hamilton was a standout freshman guard for the school.

"Guys stepped up because our whole front line was in foul trouble," first-year Rhinos head coach Benny Moss said. "We had to piece it together. It was another really good team win."

Sophomore guard Jordan Brown scored 17 of his game-high 22 points in the first half as the Rhinos trailed 38-35 at the break.

In the second half, E.J. Joyner scored all 15 of his points, Tyheim Love nine of his 16 points and Judah Ravenell eight of his 14 points.

The current 12-game winning streak that started after an 89-83 road loss to No. 1-ranked Davidson-Davie Community College is now third-longest in school history.

Gaston College won a record 17 straight games during the 1969-70 season and 14 straight in the 1971-72 season that was the school's last in athletics until the 2021-22 school year.

Gaston College is now off until Jan. 7 when it plays at the Converse junior varsity team at 7 p.m. The Rhinos' next home game is Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. against Pitt Community College.

Moss' team will return to practice on Jan. 2 to get ready for a seven-game January schedule that also includes the Jan. 15 opening of Region 10 Division I action at Denmark Tech.

"We're going to have about five days of really good practice until we play again," Moss said. "We'll need it because there are some things we need to improve upon."