Gaston College opens 2023-24 with home victory over Cleveland Community College

A strong closing burst made Gaston College a winner in its 2023-24 debut over Cleveland Community College on Thursday night at the Ashbrook High School gymnasium in Gastonia.

After falling behind for the first time since midway the first half in the middle of the second half, the Rhinos closed the game strong for an 85-74 victory over visiting Yetis.

Judah Ravenell (21 points, 6 rebounds), Tyheim Love (20 points), Jamal Ukaegbu (14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists), Kush Carter (11 points) and Michael Smith (10 points) led a balanced attack for Gaston College.

"I was nervous, it was crazy and it was just a seesaw game back and forth," said interim head coach Jermaine Williams, who guided the Rhinos to their third straight season-opening victory since Gaston College restarted its athletic program in the 2021-22 school year.
"You know, you don't really know what to expect in Game One. But we're all getting better and better."

Visiting Cleveland Community College, which was playing its first basketball game since the 1970s, scored nine of the game's first 11 points before Gaston College caught and passed the Yetis at 21-20 with 9:23 left in the first half.

Eventually a 9-0 run for a 28-20 lead with 6:18 left in the first half, the game's first big surge gave the Rhinos their biggest first half lead.

Gaston College led 38-35 at the half and was ahead again by eight points (43-35) before the Yetis made a run to forge ahead 57-56 with 9:32 to play.

Ravenell converted a three-point play to put Gaston College ahead for good with 9:12 to play but Cleveland Community College stayed within four points until Ravenell's 3-pointer and a pair of Love three-point plays created a comfortable, game-high 83-69 lead with 48.9 seconds left.

Shawn Wilson had 18 points and Jashaun Hawkins 15 to lead the Yetis, who will host Gaston College in a return game on Nov. 16 at Cleveland Community College's on-campus gymnasium.

"I'm thankful for this opportunity," said Williams, who was hired as interim head coach in August. "It's crazy that I'm here and I give God all the glory for this opportunity. I know He's got me here for a reason."

Gaston College returns to action next Wednesday at home at 8 p.m. at Ashbrook against Davidson-Davie Community College, which spent much of the 2022-23 ranked No. 1 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II poll.