The Berkeley College men's basketball team split a pair of contests this weekend, blowing out Mid-Atlantic Christian University in Elizabethtown, North Carolina by a score of 115-76 on Saturday, before falling to Stratford University by a score of 88-80 in Newport News, Virginia on Sunday.
In the Knights' victory over the Mustangs on Saturday, Berkeley College was led by Ricardo Ayuso, as the veteran connected on seven of his 14 shots from the floor to finish with a game-high 19 points. Larence Horner contributed 17 points while snatching five rebounds, and newcomer Dequan Jones put forth a versatile effort, netting 12 points while recording a game-high four steals and tying for the game-high in assists with four.
Berkeley dominated the game in all facets. The Knights shot 55.6 percent from the floor (45-81), while holding Mid-Atlantic Christian University to a 39.7 percent conversion rate (27-68). The Knights out-rebounded the Mustangs 52-34, while also committing just 14 turnovers while committing 21 opponent miscues. Berkeley recorded 57 points from their bench players, compared to 41 from Mid-Atlantic Christian University.
In the Knights' defeat to the Cardinals, Berkeley was paced by Deylon Bovell, as he scored a team-high 17 points while snatching six rebounds and adding a game-high four steals. Anthony Hemingway nailed a pair of three-point baskets to finish with 15 points while snatching three steals, and Dequan Jones finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Leading the way for Stratford University in its victory was DeAndre Demiel, as he drilled eight of his nine shots from the charity stripe and finished with a game-high 19 points. He also posted game-highs of six assists and five steals, as well. Kendall Shepherd added 13 point and three rebounds, and Ron Davis contributed nine points while snatching 14 rebounds.
The Knights connected on 40.9 percent of their shots from the floor in the loss (27-66) while holding Stratford University to 32 percent shooting (24-75). Berkeley misfired on 11 free throws (20-31, 64.5 percent), while the Cardinals missed 10 (33-43, 76.7 percent). Stratford University won the rebounding battle, snatching 53 caroms compared to 43 for the Knights.
Berkeley College will now have 19 days off before returning to action on Saturday, January 5, as the Knights will take on the University of Maine at Augusta as part of the NHTI/Holiday Inn New Year's Classic. Start-time for that contest is scheduled for 6:00pm. The following day, on Sunday, January 6, the Knights will face host NHTI at 3:45pm.
