Record-setting rebounding effort lifts Gaston College to road win over previously unbeaten team

Game 4: Nov. 13 at Central Carolina Community College

Gaston College's basketball team used a strong defensive performance highlighted by a record-setting individual rebounding effort to win 73-66 at unbeaten Central Carolina Community College on Wednesday.

The Rhinos improved to 3-1 overall as Judah Ravenell's 20 rebounds were a modern school record and tied for third all-time in school history as they rallied from a 13-point deficit in the first half to take the victory.

"We didn't shoot the ball very well and we turned it over too much, but with our free throw shooting, our rebounding and our defense, we were able to take a good road win," first-year Gaston College coach Benny Moss said.

Ravenell had seven offensive rebounds and 13 defensive rebounds and collected nine rebounds in the first half and 11 in the second half.

It surpassed the total of 13 by Kalil Camara (Nov. 10, 2021) and Ajaden Gray (Feb. 28, 2023) that had been tied for the previous record after the school restarted athletics in the 2021-22 school year.

In the school's all-time history that includes fielding teams from the 1964-65 season through the 1971-72 season, Ravenell's effort is tied for third all-time.

Charles Hamilton is the all-time leader with 30 rebounds in a Jan. 15, 1970 game, followed by 23 from Robert Marziano (Jan. 30, 1968) and 20 by Lewis Webber (Feb. 8, 1968). And the previous fourth-place rebounding total of 19 had been held by arguably Gaston College's most famous alumnus (Leonard Hamilton). Hamilton, now in his 53rd year overall as a basketball coach and 23rd year as Florida State's head basketball coach, had 19 rebounds on Feb. 17, 1967.

"I'm really happy for Judah because he's worked really hard since I've been here," Moss said of Ravenell, a sophomore from Charlotte. "He's a very good rebounder and pursues the basketball. He really came up with a lot of big rebounds for us tonight."

After trailing 24-11 with 9:05 left in the opening half, E.J. Joyner and Ravenell sparked an 18-7 surge that closed the host Cougars' lead to 31-29 with 1:31 left in the opening half.

After Central Carolina took a 35-29 halftime advantage, the Rhinos opened the second half on a 23-8 surge to take a game-high 52-43 lead with 12:20 to play.

The Cougars would stage a rally themselves for a 55-54 lead with 7:33 to play, but Spencer Breeden's third 3-pointer of the game gave the Rhinos the lead for good at 59-56 with 6:03 left. Central Carolina got no closer than five in the final three minutes of the game.

Breeden (15 points), Joyner (13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists), Ravenell (11 points, 20 rebounds), Jordan Brown (7 points, 3 assists) and Jozohn Price (7 points, 10 rebounds) led Gaston College's balanced offense.

"To go on the road and not shoot very well but come away with a win is important," Moss said. "The defense really pulled this one out for sure."

Gaston College returns to action with three home games and a nearby road game in its next four contests.

The Rhinos host Virginia Peninsula Community College on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Gastonia's Ashbrook High School and Guilford Tech on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. at Ashbrook before travelling to nearby Cleveland Community College next Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game and closing out the four-game stretch on Nov. 24 against the Catawba College junior varsity at 2 p.m. at Ashbrook.