Gaston College falls in game at defending NJCAA national champion

Gaston College ran into a motivated defending national champion Friday night in the first day of a two-day doubleheader.

And Northwest Florida, the defending National Junior College Athletic Association and ranked No. 1 in the first three polls this season, defended its homecourt with an impressive 98-53 victory.

In a contest with 56 combined fouls in which 18 of the 19 players who participated picked up at least one foul and four being disqualified with five fouls, the Raiders improved to 10-3 behind a 62-point second half.

Gaston College, which fell to 6-2, led early in the contest before Northwest Florida took charge on its way to a 36-20 halftime lead.

DaMarco Watson (13 points, 6 rebounds) and Michael Smith (10 points) led the Rhinos, who return to action on Saturday at 3 p.m. EST against Pensacola State College of Florida at the Northwest Florida State gymnasium.

The Raiders, who have five former NCAA Division I players on the roster, had double figure scorers led by San Diego State transfer Chad Baker-Mazzara's 19 points and 5 rebounds.