Bryan College Triangle

Catherine Rogers
Multimedia Editor

The Bryan College Men’s Basketball Team hosted Maryville (Tenn.) College Monday night, winning their last nonconference game of the season, 79-73, and putting their winning streak total at ten in the last 11 games.

“Maryville was a big game, but every game is big now,” said senior guard Derek Batt. “Maryville is extremely talented and beat us at our last meeting, but we are on a mission this season.”

Senior forward Astral Guerrier reaches for the ball in Monday's game against Maryville College / Triangle photo by Catherine Rogers

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by Catherine Rogers
Multimedia Editor

Senior forward Keith Bauer chases down a Lee player/Triangle photo by Catherine Rogers

Last Monday night, the men’s varsity basketball team faced the team that Head Coach Don Rekoske deemed as the most athletic on their schedule, the NAIA Division 1 Flames of Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.).

The game was a showdown, intense down to the last second, keeping fans on the edge of their seat as both teams fought for the win. The Lions kept the game close throughout the night but finally succumbed to the Flames 77-68.

Going into the game, the Lions were confident, according to Rekoske. Read full story »

by Catherine Rogers
Multimedia Editor

Junior Josh Decker dunks the ball/Triangle photo by Catherine Rogers

At their first home game of the season this past Saturday, the men’s varsity basketball team hosted Johnson Bible College (Knoxville, Tenn.) in what was “a good warm-up game,” according to Head Coach Don Rekoske.

The Lions had little expectations for their game against the Preachers, but used it as an opportunity to give all 15 players playing time. Fourteen of the players scored during the game.

“Going into the game, we planned to apply good defensive pressure and win the rebound battle and we executed this to perfection,” said senior forward Keith Bauer. Read full story »

by Ericka Simpson
Staff Writer

Junior forward Keith Bauer goes in for a lay-up against Reinhardt College in the Lion's first game of the AAC tournament. Triangle photo by Maddie K. Doucet, Staff Photographer.

The Bryan College men’s basketball team fell to Reinhardt College (Waleska, Ga.) 68-61, ending their season. The Lions hosted the Eagles on Wednesday, Feb. 24 in the quarterfinals of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament.

Going into the tournament, the Lions were in a four-way tie for first place in the AAC with an 11-5 conference record. They tied with Bluefield College (Va.), Union College (Barbourville, Ky.) and The University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

The game plan was not much different than any other game, according to Head Coach Don Rekoske.

“Playing good defense and rebounding is where it all starts for us,” Rekoske said, “And I don’t feel like we did either of those things that well.”

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by Billy Findley
Sports Editor

The men’s basketball team dominated the Cobras of Virginia Intermont College (Bristol, Va.) 81 – 48 Monday night in Virginia. The victory put the Lions a mere two wins away from securing first place in the AAC this season and being eligible to host the post-season tournament scheduled to begin Feb. 24. It’s been nearly 10 years since the team has finished first in the conference, according to Head Coach Don Rekoske.

The win Monday was prefaced by a substantial victory against Montreat College (N.C.) last Saturday. However, the team stayed cautious going into Monday’s game, not taking anything for granted despite Virginia Intermont’s current ranking of seventh in the AAC.

Junior power forward Astral Guerrier soars passed for a layup during Saturday's game against Montreat College. Photo by Billy Findley.

“They’re very dangerous on the road,” Rekoske said Saturday after the game against Montreat. Junior forwards Scott Newton and Derrick Batt both concurred with Rekoske’s statement Saturday, and both said the team would need to stay focused in order to accomplish their overarching goal of finishing out the season on top. After Monday night’s performance, the Lions may do just that.

There was not a time during the game that the Lions trailed the Virtinia Intermont Cobras. Players of the game for Bryan included junior guard Xavierian McCall who finished with 14 points and junior power forward Astral Guerrier who dominated the boards with 14 points and 18 rebounds. The rest of the team followed suit, particularly three players off the bench, according to Rekoske – senior guard/forward Andrew Slikker, sophomore guard Jeremy Haley and freshman guard Tyler Clark, who, according to Rekoske, played his best game of the season Monday night.

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