Gaston College struggles after long layoff, drops home game to perennial power

A 23-day layoff proved too much for Gaston College's basketball team to overcome on Monday night as it returned to action for the first time of the second semester of its 2025-26 season.

The Rhinos fell 85-72 to perennial power Davidson-Davie Community College at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.

The loss ended Gaston College's 13-game winning streak and left it with the second-best start in school history as the Rhinos dropped to 13-1.

"We'll get better because of this," Gaston College coach Benny Moss said. "But we wanted to play this game. I wanted to play in the middle of the first semester, which was when it was originally scheduled (on Nov. 19), but things happen.
"Their volleyball team goes to nationals and their coach wants to go as the AD and I get that. But I personally put us in a difficult situation by playing this game and this opponent after three weeks off."

Gaston College's struggles were most evident in 3-point shooting as the Rhinos made a season-low 15 percent (six of 30).

"Obviously we weren't sharp," Moss said. "If you don't play a game for 23 days, you don't keep your rhythm and your focus.
"In some ways it's good because we get to focus on some of the finer details. We didn't execute the way we want to do on the offensive or defensive side. So we'll go watch some film and learn from it."

Sophomore E.J. Joyner (21 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) led the way for the Rhinos on Monday. Jozohn Price (12 points, 5 rebounds), Kaleb Siler (11 points, 8 rebounds), Ryan Evans (8 points, 7 rebounds) and Tin Tikvesa (7 points, 4 rebounds) were Gaston College's other top contributors.

The season-opening 13-game winning streak is fifth in school history.

Davidson-Davie (9-4) was ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll as recently as last season, has qualified for the NJCAA Division II national tournament in each of the previous six seasons and finished as national runner-up in 2021 and 2022.

Gaston College has two more home games before Region 10 Division I league play begins - on Wednesday at 8 p.m. against the Montreat junior varsity and on Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Converse developmental team. Both games will be played at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School.