Gaston College's basketball season ends in Region 10 tournament

Gaston College's 2024-25 basketball season came to an end on Thursday afternoon following a 65-51 loss to Richard Bland, Va., in the Region 10 quarterfinals at the Tarlton Complex at Catawba Valley Community College.

The Rhinos finish the season with a 22-8 overall record that is the third-best winning percentage and wins in a single season in school history. Gaston College also had a 17-game winning streak earlier in the season that ties for the longest in school history.

"You've got to take a deep breath and reflect because it was a great year for us," first-year Rhinos head coach Benny Moss said. "To win 22 games and win 17 games in a row, obviously we had a lot of good things happen.
"I feel bad for the three sophomores because I really wanted to get the national tournament for those guys."

Gaston College needed to win the Region 10 tournament to advance to the national tournament later this month in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Before Thursday's game, those sophomores - guards Jordan Brown (first team), Tyheim Love (second team) and Judah Ravenell (second team) - were honored for their recent selections on the All-Region 10 team.

In the game, the Rhinos led 29-24 at halftime and took a 31-24 lead in the second half before the Statesmen scored the next 10 points to take the lead for good.

Love (14 points), freshman Ryan Evans (11 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks), Ravenell (9 points, 10 rebounds), freshman E.J. Joyner (6 points, 3 assists), freshman Kyhree McAlister (4 points, 6 rebounds) and Brown (5 assists) led Gaston College.

"In the second half, I thought they did a better job with their zone," Moss said of Richard Bland. "We were able to get into the gaps and drive to the basket or kick out to open shooters. In the second half, they made an adjustment that made it tougher for us."