Flyers prevail at DI Brunswick With Strong Defensive Performance

The Sandhills Community College basketball team separated itself from Brunswick CC with an early 9-0 run before building its advantage to 30 points on the way to a 101-87 road victory on Thursday evening.

LeNijel Robinson led five Flyers in double-figures with 20 points. Bryan Quiller, 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaquan Thurman 12 and 12, put together double-doubles. Kendall Wooldridge and Joey McMullin contributed 14 points each.

Coach Mike Apple's No. 3 ranked in NJCAA Division III squad improved to 13-3 while the Division I Dolphins dropped to 8-8. The Flyers are idle until next Wednesday when they travel to Smithfield for a 7 p.m. tilt against a Division II Johnston Community College squad that is off to a 2-10 start.

Coming off Sunday's loss to No. 1 ranked and undefeated Davidson-Davie CC in a game streamed nationally on ESPN+, Apple was pleased that his team came ready to play against a tall Dolphin squad that included players 6-foot-10, 6-9 and 6-8.

"Our defense has gotten better, we're guarding better and making it harder for teams to get into their offense," Apple said after his team limited the Dolphins to a dozen first half field goals, coming off a strong first half against Davidson-Davie. "Getting a win against a Division I team helps us in our ranking, and if we make the national tournament, it can help our seeding."

Tied at 7-7 in the early going, Thurman fed Quiller for a basket and McMullin drained a three, to spark the early rally. The Flyers went on to close out the half with a 9-2 run that began with a drive for two by Thurman. It ended with another three by McMullin as the buzzer sounded, hiking the advantage to 53-31 at the intermission.

Midway through the second half, Thurman assisted again on a basket by Quiller that increased the lead to 82-52. Robinson erupted to score nine points in the final six minutes of the game to nix any Dolphin notions of a comeback.

Wooldridge, who averaged 12 points per game over the final 14 games of his freshman season, had scored a total of two points in the previous four games. He made both of his shots from the field against the Dolphins and was 9-for-9 from the charity stripe while matching his season-high in points.  The double-double for Thurman was his sixth of the season.

"Kendall had a good night at the free throw line and was 2-for-2 from the field," Apple said. "I hope its a sign of things to come. And I can't say enough about the way Jaquan sets a tone."

Coming off the bench for the first time this season, as he did most of last season when he earned Region 10 Player of the Year and third team All-American honors, McMullin split the 40 minutes equally with Quiller. The pair combined to score 29 points, making 12 of their 22 shots from the field and added 12 rebounds and five assists.

Teamwise the Flyers made 53.6 per cent of their shots from the field, were 9-for 20 on shots from beyond the arc and 18-for-22 from the charity stripe.

The next home date for the Flyers is on Saturday, January 14 when they entertain New Hope Collegiate at 3 p.m.

C. Bergmann