Setting the standard: NGU men’s basketball regular season recap
Ian Johnson, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Robbie Gawrys
On February 25, the North Greenville University men’s basketball regular season ended with an 84-74 win over King University. This game concluded the Trailblazers most successful season in a decade. The team finished with a record of 18-10 and would win the Conference Carolinas Northwest Division.
The team entered the season with a lot of uncertainty as it had to replace half of the roster. These losses included three of the top four scorers and three of the team’s starters.
Jacob Brown, senior interdisciplinary major and captain said, “It was definitely scary. Honestly, you didn’t know how some these guys were gonna turn out but I think it went pretty well.”
The Trailblazers added five freshmen and three transfers to the team, many of which would be key parts of the team’s success.
“I was pretty excited,” said Savion Brown, senior health science major and captain. “Knowing there’s a whole bunch of new faces. I was ready to take on the challenge of being a leader, being a captain.”
The team added key freshmen, Zayden Edwards, Logan Parker and Prince Jones-Bynum, all of which would play in big moments during the season.
Logan Parker, freshman communication major said, “[college basketball] was kind of a surprise to me, learning everything, big learning curve, but as it started going, it felt more natural, it got much easier.”
From the transfer portal, sophomore forward, Josh Linder came from Limestone University and led the conference in blocks.
Another key player on the team was redshirt freshmen, Carter Bobbitt, who finished second in scoring for the team. Alongside the new players, Jacob Brown and Savion Brown led the team as seniors and captains.
It was hard to believe how the season started for the Trailblazers. The team won the season opener against Division 1 Gardner-Webb University.
“I knew we had something special,” said S. Brown. “We had the potential to do something really good.”
In their first collegiate game, freshmen, Zayden Edwards had scored 25 points and Redshirt freshmen, Carter Bobbitt, scored 18 points.
“I felt like we could beat anybody in the country at that point,” said Zayden Edwards, freshman health science major. “It was an emotional high but we got brought back to reality.”
That same week, the team upset No. 16 Columbus State University by a three pointer by Bobbitt as time expired.
“I think we were all kind of on top of the world for a little bit,” J. Brown said. “We got humbled a little bit after that but it’s okay.”
Throughout the season the team had to overcome tough games and even tougher losses. They lost two games to last second shots against Converse University and Young Harris College.
When asked about dealing with tough losses, the players had similar responses.
“I’m a follower of Christ so ultimately understanding my worth is more than my performance athletically – the sun will come back up if you lose. You came back and work the next day,” said Edwards.
“The converse game definitely sits with me a little,” said Prince Jones-Bynum, freshmen cybersecurity major. “But there’s more to life than basketball, you got to come back the next day and work.”
As the season came to a close, the team played Belmont Abbey College on February 10. The winner of the game would clinch the division title.
“We just wanted to keep our minds focused,” said S. Brown. “Stay knowing me and him [Jacob] are going to determine how the teams going to play for the rest of the back and forth.”
The game went back and forth with a late Josh Linder layup that tied the game and force overtime. In overtime, the game remained close, until a late three by Savion Brown put the Trailblazers over the top.
“That game is the reason I play basketball, for games like that. Crowds in it, bench is in it. I’venever seen this many people in Hayes Gymnasium before that game. It was the loudest I’ve ever heard it”
As the team prepared for the playoffs, the goal remained the same.
For the seniors these games are the last of their careers but for the others this is just the beginning.
“We’re looking to win the division every year that’s the standard now,” said Edwards.
Their season came to a close this year with a 93-96 loss to King University, but with the goal for the future already set, the captains had a few words of advice for the current freshmen and future players of the team.
Jones-Bynum said, “With a lot of guys on this team being extremely young, these upcoming years are going to be even better than we were this year.”
“Be a family, there’s no I in team,” said Jacob Brown.
“A standard has been set and you just got to reach it. If you can’t meet it then don’t come here,” said Savion Brown.
