Bryan College Triangle

Questionable buzzer-beater takes the game to overtime

Freshman point guard Dion Fair had 13 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in Wednesday night's game / Triangle photo by Jessica Slade

Sebastian Fischer
Sports Editor

Wednesday night was one to remember at Summers Gymnasium. In a highly entertaining, breakneck match, the men’s basketball team (10-13, 5-4 in AAC) lost to conference rival Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens), 107-104.

With a sure victory in sight for the Lions, the referees counted a Wesleyan three-pointer that was released just after the buzzer sounded to end regulation (Click here to view video or look below). The Bulldogs went on to win the game in overtime.

“It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but you’ve got to swallow it,” said Bryan Head Coach Don Rekoske after the game. “We have to accept it and move on.” Read full story »

Sebastian Fischer
Sports Writer

The 2011-2012 has been a tough ride for the Bryan College men’s basketball team (3-7, 0-1 in AAC) so far, and it didn’t get any easier Wednesday night. The Lions battled against conference rival Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens) and lost a match that was closer than the score suggests with 57-69.

“We put ourselves in the position to win but didn’t execute well in the last five minutes,” said Coach Don Rekoske after the game, explaining the loss in the first conference game of the season.

While no team was able to pull clear in the first half, Bryan was trailing for the most part. Whenever the Lions came close to a lead, they lacked the final vigor and determination to seize control over the game. Read full story »

Junior shooting guard Rober "Philly" Riley (# 10) attempts to knock the ball from a Tennessee Temple player's grasp / Triangle photo by Cat Rogers

Shane Vicry
Triangle Reporter

The Bryan College men’s basketball team opened up its season Monday night, playing host to the Crusaders of Tennessee Temple University (Chattanooga). The Lions trailed throughout, and lost by a final score of 66-56.

Freshman point guard Dion Fair and junior shooting guard Rob “Philly” Riley led the Lions with 13 points apiece.

Despite the loss, the team is taking away several positives from the game, and the coaches are very optimistic about the upcoming season.

The Lions will have a much different look this season as Bryan saw 11 players depart from last year’s squad that finished the regular season as No. 2 seed of the AAC, including eight graduating seniors. As a result, outside expectations are tempered, with the Lions picked to finished seventh out of nine teams in the AAC.

Assistant Coach Samuel Gilbertson says he feels the lowered expectations really play to the team’s advantage. Read full story »

by Ericka Smith
Assistant Editor

The Bryan College Athletic Department hired men’s assistant basketball coach Jason Smith to take over the head women’s basketball coaching position. Smith was hired in the beginning of March, and his official duties start on April 1.

Smith’s experience in head coaching started at Calvary Bible College (Kansas City, MO) where he was the men’s basketball coach for three years, according to Smith. He then moved to San Diego Christian College (El Cajon, Calif.) where he coached the men’s basketball team from 2007-2009.

For the past year, Smith has assisted head men’s basketball coach Don Rekoske. According to Smith, he has never coached women before.

“This is a new step in my coaching career,” Smith said.

After accepting the head coaching position, Smith said he started holding individual meetings with the players so as to build player development.

“We’re going to work a lot on individual player development between now and the start of the season,” he said.

One of his goals for the women’s basketball team is to work on the team’s attitude and effort, according to Smith, and he said he realizes that he will face challenges with his new team.

“I’ve coached enough to know there are bumps in the road.”

Smith said he desires for the women’s basketball team to be competitive in the Appalachian Athletic Conference next year, and he said he plans to accomplish that goal by working on “their identity and responsibility on and off the court.”

“Being a head coach is an honor. I love being a head coach,” Smith said. “The Lady Lions are headed in the right direction, and I’m excited about seeing the growth in the individuals and the team.”

Senior forward Keith Bauer attmepts to break through Union’s defense on his way to the basket during Saturday afternoon’s game./Triangle photo by Catherine Rogers

by Catherine Rogers
Multimedia Editor

Saturday afternoon marked the regular-season finale game for the Bryan College men’s basketball team, during which they hosted and defeated the Union College (Barbourville, Ky.) Bulldogs, 77-69.

“Union has one of the best players in the league, [sophomore guard Turrell Morris], and they won two decisive games coming in, so we knew they we’re going to be a tough team,” said Head Coach Don Rekoske. “I thought we had to play at a very high level to beat them, so that’s a tribute to how well our guys played.”

In the first half, Bryan took the game’s first lead and despite a five-minute back-and-forth swap, held the lead for the majority of the first 20 minutes of play. Going into the locker rooms, the Bulldogs trailed the Lions 37-33.

The second period saw the Lions pull out an 11-point lead in the half’s first three minutes and top the high level of play from Union, managing an 8-point win. Bryan outrebounded Union, 36-27, and committed only eight turnovers to Union’s eleven. Read full story »