The Matchup
Newport News Apprentice at North Carolina Wesleyan
Tuesday, November 26th, 2024
7:30 p.m. ET | FloCollege
Rocky Mount, NC / Everett Gymnasium

North Carolina Wesleyan (2-4, 0-0 USA South)
Head Coach: John Thompson
NCWU Record: 445-319

Newport News Apprentice (3-0, 0-0 NSAC)
Head Coach: Michael Gainey
Newport News Apprentice Record: 3-0

Series History
All-Time Series Record: NCWU leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: NCWU won, 72-71 (2023, Rocky Mount)

Last Time Out

The Battling Bishops defeated Mary Washington in a thriller on Saturday inside Everett Gymnasium by a score of 58-54. In the best defensive effort of the year, Wesleyan forced twelve Eagle turnovers and held UMW to 26.1% from behind the arc.

Bolden Takes Over

Against Mary Washington, Omari Bolden had a standout performance, scoring nineteen points at will and was a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. Bolden was also tenacious on defense, coming up with four huge steals. 

The Opponent

Newport News Apprentice is off to a perfect 3-0 record to begin the 2024-25 campaign. Defeating Methodist 82-63 their last time out, the Builders are led by guard Karree Smith, who averages 16.3 points per game. The Builders are led in his first season by Head Coach Michael Gainey who played basketball at Rocky Mount High School and won a state title in 2012. His father currently serves as Athletic Director of the Gryphons.