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.

“We had control most of the game, but they stayed just close enough to keep the heat on us the entire night,” said Rekoske. “Every time we got ahead by ten or twelve, they cut it down to five or six. We never trailed, but we never had that room that you like to have to ensure a win.”

The Lions were led by senior forward Scott Newton, who scored a game-high 25 points.

Other key players included junior guard Lavonte Henderson, who managed 15 points and 5 rebounds off the bench, and senior forward Keith Bauer, who was terrific defensively and a beast on the glass, according to Rekoske, with nine points and eight rebounds.

Senior forward Astral Guerrier finished the night with a double-double, scoring 13 points and a game high 10 rebounds.

“Astral got rebounds that only he can get,” said Rekoske. “I don’t know where he was coming from, but I was wowed by some of the efforts he made on the glass.”

The Lion’s finished their regular-season with 21 wins and 8 losses, ranking second in their league.

Last night, they hosted Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens, Tenn.) in the first round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament (see www.bryanlions.com for game results), setting their sights on winning three games in a row to send them to the national tournament in Branson, Mo.

[Gallery photos by Catherine Rogers]

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Senior point guard Demond Craig attempts a move around Virginia Intermont players / Triangle Photo by Catherine Rogers

The Bryan College men’s basketball team hosted the Virginia Intermont College (Bristol, Va.) Cobras last Wednesday in a conference game expected to continue the Lion’s winning streak. The Cobras took the win, 65-61.

Both teams took turns leading during the first half, but the halftime buzzer left the Lions trailing the Cobras, 37-29.

The rest of the game was led by the Cobras until just over five minutes remained on the clock. The two teams fought for the lead for several minutes until the Cobras took a one point lead in the final minute of the game. With 22 seconds left, the Cobras moved to a three point lead. Twelve seconds remained and a Virginia Intermont player hit a free throw putting their lead at four points.

In the final six seconds, the Lions scored a layup, but immediately fouled giving Virginia Intermont two free throws. They scored both shots and won the game.

The Lions top scorer of the night, senior guard Xavierian McCall, scored 16 points. Other key players included senior guard Dominique Clements with 10 points, senior guard Derek Batt with eight points and senior forward Keith Bauer who managed nine points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Astral Guerrier added eight points and 17 rebounds.

The Lions traveled to Milligan College (Elizabethton, Tenn.) Saturday night and lost, 62-47, to the Buffalo’s who are now number one in the NAIA Division II Conference.

The next game for the Lions will be against Reinhardt University (Waleska, Ga.) at home this Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm.

[Gallery photos by Catherine Rogers]

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This week, I interviewed Don Rekoske, head coach of the men’s varsity basketball team about his goals for the season.

So coach, how has your season been going so far?

So far it’s going real well, we’re 7-3. We’re ranked just outside the top 25 at number 27 in the country.

[There are a] lot of seniors on this year’s team, a group of guys that I’ve really enjoyed coaching. A lot of these guys have played for me for four years. A couple of them are transfers that have played for me as juniors and seniors. We have a good group of guys, good chemistry. It’s been a real pleasure to work with this group.

Editors Note: As of Dec. 6, the Lions are ranked number 25 in the country.

Who are the team’s top players?

We have three all-conference players returning. We are a very balanced team first of all, but we still have our go-to guys. Senior forward center Scott Newton is the league’s runner-up MVP. Junior forward center Astral Guerrier and Senior forward Keith Bauer are second team all-conference players that are returning. Senior guard Dominique Clements has come in this year as a redshirt giving us a nice sixth man off the bench averaging about 11 points a game. Beyond that, Senior point guard Demond [Craig] has had a really good year so far as [point guard]. He’s been a four-year starter for us. That’s always a real luxury to have a kid play [point guard] that’s been a four-year starter. He’s been very productive. Senior guard Xavierian McCall really gets it done on both ends of the floor.

What are the team’s strengths and weaknesses?

Well, we have weaknesses; we’re still a work in progress. We’ve been trying to address those weaknesses over these past 10 days.

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.

Bryan scored the first four points of the game, held a lead throughout the first half and only allowed the Preachers to get within one point of their score. At halftime, the score was 56-15.

In the second half, the Lions dominated and continued to build their lead to over 60 points.

The central highlight of the game came when freshman guard T.J. Smith came off the bench and “kept hitting three-point shots over and over,” according to senior forward Astral Guerrier. Smith totaled five three pointers throughout the game.

Other highlights of the game included dunks from both Bauer and Guerrier, who both expect this season to take them to the national tournament. The final score was 101-39.

(Gallery photos by Catherine Rogers)

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Does it surprise you that the namesake of Bryan College, William Jennings Bryan, was a three-time Democratic Party presidential candidate? That would seem a little far-fetched for a college that’s been aligned more closely with the Republican Party for years. Well, if you’re a Bryan student and you’re not a conservative Republican, your time has come.

Last Thursday morning, the first meeting for two new political groups on campus was held in Associate Professor of Political Science Ron Petitte’s, Strategy and Politics class. These two groups represent the Democratic Party and the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL).

“I organized this because I think it is good for Bryan,” said Petite. “We need healthy debate. Also, because Bryan accepts significant amounts of federal aid for its students, we, as a college, have to be nonpartisan or we run the risk of losing [that support].”

Kevin Clauson, professor of government and director of the WJB Center for Law, is the faculty advisor for the Young Americans for Liberty group. He also emphasized the importance of these new groups.

“It is important for each group (or as many as possible) to have a “party” for at least two reasons, one philosophical and one practical: (1) to give as many students as possible a voice and a home in the political sphere of life, and (2) to ensure that the tax-exempt status of Bryan College is above reproach,” Clauson said.

For the past three years there has been a desire for more political parties to be represented on campus but just not enough student interest, according to Michael Palmer, associate professor of communication studies and faculty advisor for the College Republicans.

“Now, it seems to be, the interest is there, and the numbers are there,” he said. “These are intended to be student-driven efforts.”

These student-driven groups are twofold in function: to foster political activism and to help politically-minded students to be more informed.

Clauson gave examples of the political activism that the YAL group hopes to cultivate.

“YAL will eventually host some debates, invite candidates to speak or possibly debate, invite individuals⎯not necessarily candidates, but current or former officeholders or candidates⎯to speak and, more specifically for YAL, promote ideas of Constitutional liberty among members⎯students who wish to participate⎯and others,” he said.

Palmer said his hope for these groups is that they would be informative for the student body.

“There are a decent variety of voices on campus, and if people come here and it’s a place which promotes good discourse⎯where you can learn to differ and argue well without being mean spirited and that you can tolerate differences and listen to other voices⎯you can grow in your own position. But it doesn’t happen well if you just go to one voice and sameness is all you’ve got.” he said.

Bill Ketchersid, professor of history and the College Democrats faculty advisor, agreed with Palmer.

“Both views should be represented to cause students to think more thoroughly about domestic and foreign policy. A strong Democrat student party could cause more political divisions, but I believe that would promote more sound thinking,” he said.

With these new groups, “people will have a place and a voice to refine their thinking—iron sharpens iron—the chaffing is good and if it’s good for the democratic nature of the country, it is also good for the  college.” said Palmer.

So, in addition to the College Republican emails that you receive, look for future plans of the College Democrats and Young Americans for Liberty groups in your inbox.

If you wish to join a group contact Keith Bauer for College Democrats, Daniel Grayton for Young Americans for Liberty or Josh Davis and Bethany Diamond for College Republicans.

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.”

Lions down in the first half

In the first half of the game, the Eagles pulled ahead 16-6 with the Lions struggling to regain ground. At half time, the Eagles still held the lead 35-29.

Junior forward Keith Bauer, who has been having shoulder trouble for the last three weeks of the season, said that the defense played irresponsibly.

“People did not always do their job,” Bauer said. “There was a lack of trust.”

Lions pull ahead in the second half until an injury timeout

The Lions played hard the first 13 minutes of the second half, according to Rekoske, and were gaining momentum. They took the lead 52-50, with junior forward Scott Newton scoring 30 points for the game.

With eight minutes left to play, freshman guard Tyler Clark collided with Reinhardt senior guard Kordel Alexander.

The players were close to each other and were moving fast when they both turned at the same time, and their heads cracked together, according to Head Athletic Trainer Scott Landis. The players received a similar cut just above the eyebrow.

“It was one of the most substantial cuts I’ve ever seen in eight years of athletic training,” Landis said.

He estimated they would each have to get seven to eight stitches.

Rekoske said the game stopped for 10 minutes for Landis to tend the injuries and clean up the blood from the head wounds.

The collision killed the Lions’ momentum, according Bauer.

When play resumed, the Eagles took back the lead.

Rekoske said that it hurt the Lions when junior forward Astral Guerrier, who scored 16 points in the game, fouled out with five minutes left.

With a minute to go, the Lions were trailing by two points.

Rekoske said that there was a scramble for a loose ball, and a foul called on the Lions, which was a “game clincher.” The Eagles padded their lead with five free throws, outscoring the Lions by five points from the free throw line for the entire game.

“That has been our Achilles’ heel all year,” Rekoske said. “We have not been good from the free throw line.”

Bauer said that overall, it has been a good season and “that the program took steps in the right direction.” The loss to Reinhardt was disappointing, but they will have the top seven players returning next year, and some good redshirts.

“We are anticipating a great year next year,” Reksoske said. “Our fans were great the last two games, and we want to thank them and tell them to be ready to see a special team on the floor next year.”

In their final game of the season, the Lions basketball team defeated the University of Virginia College at Wise 85 – 69 Saturday night. This victory places the team in a four- way tie for first place in the AAC. This is the first time the men’s varsity basketball team has achieved this status since 2000.

Photo by Billy Findley

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Junior point guard Demond Craig drives toward the basket. Craig tied his career high of eight assists Saturday night.

UVA-Wise was one game ahead of Bryan going into the game, but, after what Head Coach Don Rekoske said was one of the best team efforts he’s seen in his six years of coaching at Bryan, the Lions closed the season not only in a tie for first place but with the best overall record in the conference.

“This win justifies a season full of hard work,” said junior forward Keith Bauer.

The gym was filled to capacity, and the noise of the fans, both from Bryan and UVA-Wise, vibrated the rafters.

What junior guard Xavierian McCall described as a combination of nerves and apprehensiveness caused the Lions to falter somewhat in the first half. The Lions left the half, trailing 32 – 31.

“We knew we could give a better performance,” McCall said.

With junior forward Keith Bauer fighting through a substantial shoulder injury (he was injected with pain medicine shortly before the game started) and UVA-Wise desperate to defend their first-place ranking, a breakthrough on the Lions part hardly seemed probable, according to Rekoske.

“I honestly thought the game was going to go down to the wire,” Rekoske said.

However, upon returning from the locker room, it seemed a shock of adrenaline had pervaded the Lions. After quickly scoring the first three baskets of the second half, the team caught a wave of momentum that was unstoppable.

With just over two minutes left in the game, the Lions extended their lead to 21 points and went on to finish with an 85 – 69 victory.

Junior forward Scott Newton finished the game with a career high 32 points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard/forward Derek Batt finished with a career high 21 points, and junior point guard Demond Craig tied his career high of eight assists.

“We set our goals at the beginning of the season, and, one game at a time, we achieved those goals,” said McCall.

Bryan’s post-season tournament begins this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. here at Bryan. Their first opponent will be Reinhardt College (Waleska, Va.), which is ranked sixth in the conference and finished this season with a 9 – 7 record in the AAC. The team’s top scorer is #17 Will Lewis, who averages just under 15 points a game.

Junior forward Scott Newton launches a hook shot over defenders. Newton had a career high 32 points against UVA-Wise Saturday night.

While the competition will be fierce, both Rekoske and the rest of the team have high expectations.

“Anything other than first place is going to be a disappointment,” Bauer said.

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.

“We really went out and took care of business,” McCall said. McCall said he really respects his teammates for not taking anything for granted against Virginia Intermont. He also expects Bluefield College (Va.) to come out strong Wednesday night.

“They’re going to be ready for us,” McCall said.

Bluefield is currently ranked third in the AAC and will be a challenge, particularly with junior starting forward Keith Bauer still injured and junior point guard Demond Craig, who is still recovering from a sprained ankle. Craig’s status is uncertain going into Wednesday’s game. However, win or lose, Rekoske said he has high hopes for the future of team.

“In all my years of coaching, this is a very special group of players,” Rekoske said. “This year has been great, and I think it’s just going to get even better.” The Lions are currently only half a game behind the first place team in the conference: the University of Virginia at Wise (Va.). If the Lions are able win Wednesday against Bluefield College as well as defeat UVA on Saturday, they will finish the season first place in the conference.

The Bryan College men’s basketball team is gearing up for the season with new recruits and returning players led by Head Coach Don Rekoske and New Assistant Coach Kyle Terry.

Terry graduated from Bryan last year and played under Rekoske. He has been named Rekoske’s assistant coach for the 2009-2010 season. In his senior year Terry shot 39.6 percent from behind the arc and hit a career high of seven three-pointers in one game. Along with being named Academic-All Conference for three years, Terry was also Academic All-American for his junior and senior years.

“He brings a good understanding of the program and already has the entire team’s respect in the locker room,” said Rekoske.

Last year the team finished 14-15 overall and 9-10 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The team has already started its preseason and is getting ready for the regular season.

“Preseason has gone well for us, and everyone is working hard,” said Rekoske.

There are four new players joining the team this year: two transfers and two freshmen.

Keith Bauer, a junior transfer from Roane State Community College (Harriman, Tenn.), who brings toughness to the team, can guard multiple positions and averaged 12 points per game last year, according to Rekoske.

Astral Guerrier, a sophomore transfer from Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin, Tenn.), is “extremely athletic, [has] good skill, and plays hard with a big motor,” said Rekoske. Guerrier averaged 11 points per game for Volunteer State.

Freshman Tyler Clark, who is “very skilled offensively,” comes from Oak Ridge High School (El Dorado Hills, Calif.). Rekoske expects him to help the team this year at both the two guard and the point positions.

Also, freshman Carrin Nash’s “length at the three will really help him. He can play both inside and out for us this year,” Rekoske said.

The five returning players for this year are sophomore Xavarien McCall, juniors Scott Newton, Demond Craig and Derek Batt and senior Andrew Slikker.

Team captain Newton, second-team All Conference, averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game last year for the Lions.

“He put on 15 pounds of muscle and should be even better this year,” Rekoske said about Newton.

McCall averaged 12 points per game and four assists at the end of last year.

“[McCall] had a good off-season even though he had patella knee surgery,” said Rekoske.

Craig is a “good defender” and averaged seven points per game.

Batt “plays with energy and could be an excellent defender this year. He has improved his offensive skills and had a knee injury last year that affected him,” said Rekoske.

Another team captain, Slikker “should provide leadership and is an extremely hard worker,” said Rekoske. “This should be his best year for us.”

“Our impact player is, obviously, Scott Newton since he is probably one of the top two or three returners in the league this year,” said Rekoske. “We are also looking to Xavarien to have a big year along with our two transfers Keith Bowers and Astral Guerrier.”

The first home game will be on Oct. 29 against Tennessee Temple University (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at 7:30 p.m.

“The conference should be wide open and very balanced this year, and we are looking forward to getting started with practice,” said Rekoske. “We should be improved this year since we have more talent as long as we mesh together well.”