Second half rally helps Gaston College stay atop Region 10 standings

Gaston College's basketball team rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to take a 58-54 Region 10 victory over Denmark Tech on Tuesday night at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

The Rhinos improved to 16-2 overall and 3-1 in Division I of Region 10 following their second straight victory.

"We really had to grind one out and I'm proud of the guys for their effort," first-year Gaston College head coach Benny Moss said.

A group of reserves sparked the comeback as Moss subbed in E.J. Joyner, J.R. Watson, Ryan Evans, Landon Sprouse and Kyhree McAlister after a slow start to second half allowed the visiting Panthers (9-7, 2-4) to take a 35-25 lead with 9:23 to play.

"I thought that second group played with the sense of urgency I was looking for, raised our intensity and dictated some things to them," Moss said.

Jordan Brown's follow shot with 1:42 to play gave the Rhinos their first lead since early in the second half at 52-51 and Joyner had two buckets and Brown two clinching free throws in the final 40.5 seconds to wrap up the victory.

Evans (13 points, 7 rebounds), Brown (10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists), Joyner (10 points), Judah Ravenell (7 points, 10 rebounds), Tyheim Love (7 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists), Sprouse (5 points), Spencer Breeden (3 points, 3 assists), J.R. Watson (3 points) and Jozohn Price (7 rebounds) led another balanced Gaston College attack.

The win keeps the Rhinos atop the Region 10 standings with a contest against the nation's highest-scoring team on Thursday night.

USC Salkehatchie, which averages 114.2 points per game, was originally slated to play at Gaston College on Jan. 22 before inclement weather forced its postponement.

"Credit to Denmark Tech," Moss said. "They changed the game up, slowed us down some and we had to grind it out. But we did and now it's about eating good, getting plenty of fluids and knowing we've got to get back at it in 24 hours.
"They lead the country in scoring so we know we've just got to be ready."