Charlotte, NC – Another weekend, another crucial EMAC game.  This weekend, the Apprentice Men's Basketball team traveled across North Carolina to Charlotte to take on Johnson & Wales in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader.  After an emotional win at home this past Wednesday, the Builders were looking to get another win against a team they have never beaten.  It was Senior Day for the Wildcats and Apprentice would need to tune out the distractions, in order to come away with another EMAC victory.

The beginning of the first half saw both teams matching each other on the offensive end of the court and baskets by Marion Moore and Karree Smith allowed the Builders to keep the game tied, 3-minutes into the game, at 10-10.  However, Johnson & Wales began to get some defensive stops and was able to turn them into points.  Apprentice found themselves down by 7-points, but baskets by Adrion Wall, Isaiah Jones and Avin Hawkins pulled them to within 2-points, 21-19.  Unfortunately, the Wildcats would go on a 10-0 run to distance themselves and then they would get the lead as high as 16 points with 4:37 remaining in the half.  A steal by Marion Moore resulted in a fastbreak layup from Karree Smith and all of the sudden, the Builders cut the lead to 11 points.  However, as the half came to an end, they found themselves trailing by a score of 45-32.

Johnson & Wales come out of the locker room to start the second half, continuing where they left off in terms of scoring.  They held Apprentice scoreless for the first 2-minutes, and took a 22-point lead, 54-32.  Jaydon Eason, Marion Moore and Tony Epps, Jr, all had consecutive baskets to pull to within 16-points, and for the next few minutes of the game, that is the closest they could get until Corey Joyner drained a 3-pointer to trim the lead to 68-55.  The Wildcats would gain momentum again and eventually find themselves back up by 17 points, with 6:24 left in the game.  The Builders did not go away, as, once again, Moore, Smith and Epps, Jr, scored three more consecutive baskets to get to within 12 of the lead at the media timeout.  Xavien "Buck" Hunter cut it to 10 points after driving in for a layup, but Johnson & Wales scored 5 straight to take a 90-75 advantage.  However, as he has done all season, Corey Joyner hit a 3-pointer keeping Apprentice in the game and with 39 seconds remaining, Karree Smith trimmed the lead to 7-points, 96-89.  The Wildcats would make free throws, but again Corey Joyner would hit another 3-pointer, but there was not enough time left and as the buzzer sounded, the Builders would fall by a final score of 100-92.

Apprentice had four players finish in double digits with Corey Joyner scoring 26 points, Karree Smith with 21, Marion Moore with 19 and Tony Epps, Jr with 11 points.  Moore also grabbed 9 rebounds, while Jaydon Eason led the team with 10 rebounds.  The Builders will return to action on Thursday as they welcome in Regent University for another important EMAC match-up.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm.