Elizabeth City, NC – To date, the Apprentice Men's Basketball team had played a very difficult schedule, which they hoped would prepare them as they began EMAC and USCAA play.  On Wednesday, down in Elizabeth City, NC, they would start their quest for a conference championship as they faced fellow EMAC member Mid-Atlantic Christian University.  This would be the first road game of the 2022 portion of the schedule and the Builders knew that would have to play a solid defensive game to shut down the USCAA's lead scorer and come away with the win. 

Apprentice got the scoring started to begin the first half after a steal turned into a break away layup, however MACU would score 2 in a row to take the early lead, 4-2.  Marion Moore cut the lead to 4-3, after making 1-2 free throws but the Mustangs answered back to go up, 6-3.   After a MACU 3-pointer, the Builders answered to cut the lead to 11-8, forcing the Mustangs to call its first timeout of the game.  An offensive put-back by Avin Hawkins trimmed the lead to 1 and eventually they would pull even at 12-12.  MACU regained the lead after connecting on a 3-pointer but eventually a Marion Moore drive to the basket, would put Apprentice back up by a score of 18-17.  Both teams continued to play at a fast pace and the score would be tied at 21-21 until Avin Hawkins drained a 3-pointer to give the Builders a 3-point advantage.  Baskets by Jayden Eason and Corey Joyner gave the Builders their largest lead of the game, 32-26 but the Mustangs answered with a 3-pointer of their own.  However, Avin Hawkins answered back with another 3-pointer for Apprentice to stop the momentum.  The Builders would hold the lead and as the horn sounded, they headed to the locker room up 37-29. 

The second half began with MACU hitting two 3-pointers, but Apprentice was able to dictate the pace of the first few minutes and continued to drive the ball inside, keeping their lead at 8 points and eventually 10 points, 49-39.  Two free throws from Corey Joyner gave the Builders their largest lead of the game 51-39, but a Mustang 3-pointer cut the lead to 11 points, with 13:16 remaining.  MACU started a run and pulled within 7 points, but a Marion Moore free throw and fast break layup slowed things down.  A 3-pointer from the corner by Adrion Wall and a layup from Jayden Eason pushed the Apprentice lead back to double digits, 63-50.  Another Adrion Wall basket increased the lead to 15 points, and he followed that up with 1-2 free throws for the 68-52 advantage.  While the Mustangs tried to make a comeback, the Builders would shut it down and come away with the conference win, 75-64.

Jayden Eason had his second best game of the season finishing with 27 points, while grabbing 12 rebounds.  Marion Moore added 13 points and 8 rebounds, while the Apprentice defense held the USCAA's leading scorer to only 8 points.  The Builders return home this weekend for 2 games as they host Johnson & Wales on Saturday and Warren Wilson on Sunday.  To get tickets please visit https://gobuilders.com/ticketing