Elizabeth City, NC – Wednesday night found the Regent University Men's Basketball team across the border in North Carolina for a mid-week match up with Mid-Atlantic Christian University. It would be the first of two games between the two teams, who are no strangers to each other.  The Royals would have to climb back from a big deficit, but they were able to keep their composure and come away with a last second win, 82-80.  

The start of the first half saw both defenses come out strong, but the Mustangs would get on the board first, however Senior Mark Nyce (Laurel, DE) answered with an offensive put back to tie things up. A free throw from Joakim Marie-Joseph (Saint Martin) gave Regent their first lead of the game, but free throws and a fast break layup from MACU allowed them to regain the advantage. Marie-Joseph kept the Royals close with a basket down low, and eventually they would take a one-point lead after a Freshman Marion Brown (Chesapeake, VA) layup. The advantage increased to three points after a Sophomore Darrin Clark (Suffolk, VA) fast break layup, but the Mustangs were able to slow things down after a baseline three-pointer. That did not last long as the Regent fast break offense continued to click with Clark finding Junior Matthew Mealy (Chesapeake, VA) for the score.  After falling behind by six points, Freshman Joshua Ryder (Raleigh, NC) drove and pulled up for a basket to get the Royals to within 19-15.  MACU eventually increased their advantage to nine points, but Mealy completed a three-point play to keep things close and then that was followed up by a Clark layup to cut the score to 24-20. Fellow Freshmen Micah Eastman (Virginia Beach, VA) and Modokwe Piyassa (Lome, VA) began to find their rhythm, and at the 5:22 mark, Regent only trailed 28-26. However, as time was winding down, the Mustangs were able to convert on a few three pointers and, as the teams headed to the locker room, the Royals trailed 44-30. 

After a MACU score to begin the second half, Clark pulled up and drained a long range three-pointer, but that was quickly answered by the Mustangs. Back-to-back baskets from Brown and Clark started a mini run, however, MACU was able to slow it down and increase the lead to 53-37. Eastman continued to play hard on defense, which turned into points, giving his team a much-needed spark and all of the sudden Regent had pulled to within 58-47. They would keep up the pressure and after Clark found Brown under the basket, the lead was trimmed to single digits, 65-56. Brown would do it again on the next possession, converting an offensive rebound to keep the Royals in the game and start a comeback. Brown continued to find his way, this time, converting a three-point play, with 5:53 remaining in the game, to pull Regent to within three points, which was followed by a Ryder layup cutting the advantage to 68-67. Two free throws by Clark erased the Mustangs lead, putting the Royals out in front for the first time in a while, 69-68 and that was followed by an Eastman three pointer to give Regent their largest lead of the game, 74-68. MACU would not go away as they cut the deficit to one point, but Marie-Joseph stopped the run with a basket underneath. However, on the next possession the Mustangs were able to tie the game on a three-point play.  After being fouled driving to the basket, Clark converted two free throws to regain the lead but, with 25 seconds left, MACU converted two of their own to, once again, tie the game. As time was winding down, Clark drove to the basket and found the net with 2.7 seconds remaining to put his team up by two points and that is all they would need as Regent came away with the win by a final score of 82-80. 

Clark led the Royals with 19 points and shot 100% from the free throw line, finishing 4-4. In addition, Eastman added 17 points, while Brown continued his scoring surge with 13 points. Marie-Joseph was also able to establish himself in the paint, which paid off as he went a perfect 4-4 from the field for 10 points. Regent will be back in action on Saturday, February 10th as they host Carolina University. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00pm.