Newport News, VA – Riding a two-game home win streak, the Apprentice Men's Basketball team welcomed Emory & Henry in for a Saturday afternoon tip-off. The Wasps also came into the game winning two straight and were sitting at 10-4 on the season. The Builders were looking to capitalize on their performance last weekend, where they had two players receive conference and national accolades. Coach Kee knew his team needed to play up to their full potential if they were going to knock off an Emory & Henry team who was in their first year of transition to the NCAA Division II level.
As the first half started, Vershawn Eley got Apprentice on the board first with an offensive tip in, which was followed by a Corey Joyner short jumper to make the score 4-0. After an injury timeout, Emory & Henry forced a turnover and converted on the other end to trim the lead to 2 points. After that basket, they would go on a 5-0 run to take a 3-point lead, 7-4. The Wasps were able to continue to create turnovers and at the 14:33 mark of the half, they took their largest lead of the game, 13-6. For the next 4 minutes it would be a back-and-forth game with the lead staying at 7 points, 19-12. A Jayden Eason put back trimmed the lead to 5 points, but the Wasps had an answer, as they connected on a three-point play. Unfortunately, the Builders went cold from the floor and suddenly found themselves down by a score of 31-14. Emory & Henry hit three 3-pointers in a row, to climb to their largest lead of the half 40-16. The Builders would have opportunities but were unable to take advantage of them and as the half came to an end, they headed into the locker trailing, 57-24.
The start of the second half saw Corey Joyner take a rebound coast to coast for layup and then force a turnover on the next possession, which allowed Jayden Eason to convert 2 free throws to cut the score to 57-27. Another Apprentice steal on the defensive end got them running again and Vershawn Eley finished it with a fastbreak layup, forcing the Wasps to call a timeout. Emory & Henry would come out of the timeout and hit their 9th 3-pointer of the game to slow down the Builders momentum. However, Apprentice continued to attack and a 3-pointer from Adrion Wall cut into the lead with 14:40 remaining in the game, forcing the Wasps to call another timeout. Things would settle down as both teams traded baskets, allowing Emory & Henry to keep their advantage on the scoreboard. With 7:25 left in the game Marion Moore cut the lead to 81-55 but the Builders were unable to get much closer and as the buzzer sounded, Apprentice would fall by a final score of 101-81.
The Builders were led by, last week's USCAA National Player of the Week, Marion Moore with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Jayden Eason finished with 16 points, Adrion Wall finished with 13 points and Corey Joyner finished the game with 11 points. Apprentice will look to bounce back next week as they travel to Elizabeth City, NC to face Mid-Atlantic Christian. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, January 19th.