Asheville, NC – After playing in Georgia on Friday night, the Regent University Men's Basketball team was back on the road in North Carolina for the second game of their weekend trip. Today's game would be a match-up with Warren Wilson College, who the Royals will shortly join in the Coast-To-Coast Conference. The two teams met previously this season, with the Royals winning a close two-point game. Today, they were looking to grab a road win and sweep the season series.
Junior Darrin Clark (Suffolk, VA) began the first half with a transition layup, but the Owls answered to tie the game. Clark would do it again, this time draining a three-pointer from the baseline and then put Regent up by five points after a steal and a layup. However, Warren Wilson was able to string together points and at the 15:41 mark the score was tied at 7-7. An Owl fast break basket gave them the lead, but Sophomore Antoine Brown (Chesapeake, VA) answered with a basket underneath. Clark continued to score, keeping the deficit at one point and a few plays later Brown came up with a steal and found Junior Anthony Chenault (Portsmouth, VA) for a three from the top of the key. However, Warren Wilson, once again, went on a run and at the media timeout the Royals trailed 19-14. After the timeout, Junior Maxamus Simms (Atlanta, GA) took a pass from Clark and drained a three-pointer from the baseline and a few plays later Chenault converted two free throws after he was fouled going to the basket. Unfortunately, the Owls began another run and Regent suddenly found themselves down 31-19. Sophomore Brendan Goods (Long Beach, CA) trimmed the lead to nine points with a three-pointer and then Brown would step up to the line to connect on two free throws. After another score by Brown and an offensive put back from Clark, the Royals headed into the locker room at halftime only trailing 42-40.
The second half started with a Freshman Brandon Williams (Windsor, NC) offensive put back to tie the game and Regent would take the lead after a Goods step back jumper. Clark continued the scoring run with a layup and suddenly, the Royals held a four-point lead. After a Brown three-point play, Williams was fouled going up to the basket and he was able to convert one of two free throws. Williams would do it again on the next possession as he drove to the basket to increase the lead to five points. However, Warren Wilson would eventually take the lead until a Brown layup tied things back up at 54-54. Regent was able to regain the advantage after Sophomore Micah Eastman (Virginia Beach, VA) found Williams down low for a score. After trading baskets, Clark was fouled as the shot clock was about to expire, allowing him to step to the free throw line, converting both attempts. On a defensive set, Brown stole the ball and after the offense was set, he used the baseline to get to the basket and score. As seemed to be the theme of the game, the Owls would eventually take a one-point lead, but Eastman was able to tie it back up at the free throw line. At the under eight media timeout, the Royals would find themselves down three points and then five after two Warren Wilson free throws. A Clark steal and layup would keep Regent close, and an Eastman three-pointer pulled them to within three-points, 70-67. It would be trimmed to one after a Clark offensive rebound and basket, and then he would give the team the lead with a baseline three-pointer. However, with 3:45 remaining the score was tied again until Clark drove to the basket for two. Warren Wilson managed to regain the advantage again, but Clark would do it once more, this time with an old-fashioned three-point play. However, the Owls were able to take another three-point lead until Eastman tied it back up with a long range three-pointer with one minute remaining. After a Clark basket and a Goods free throw, the Royals had a three-point lead with .9 seconds left in the game and they would hold on for the win after a missed Warren Wilson three-pointer, 87-84.
Clark finished the game by setting a school single game scoring record with 36 points, while going 8-9 from the line. In addition, Brown had a solid game with 18 points and 6 rebounds, while finishing a perfect 6-6 from the line and Goods added 11 points and 4 assists.
Regent will be back in action on Tuesday, February 18th when they travel to Front Royal, VA for a match-up with Christendom College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00pm.
