By Brackin Lambert
uscbathletics.com
The USCB men’s basketball team began the season with a barnstorming tour that has turned heads around NCAA Division II basketball, and the Sand Sharks stayed perfect in their home debut.
Ron Fudala’s team did not disappoint in its first appearance in The Cove this season, picking up an 89-72 victory over the Edward Waters Tigers on Saturday afternoon as Florida Atlantic transfer Alejandro Ralat scored 17 points to lead five Sand Sharks in double digits and dished out eight assists.
Hudson Norton heated up to fuel a late surge and finish with 14 points, while Kenney Gaines added 12, and Dylan Lewis and Kevaughn Price each scored 11.
USCB opened on 13-0 run, forcing the Tigers to burn a timeout to slow the rally, but Edward Waters battled back to knot the game at 24 with just over six minutes left in the first half before three quick points from Kyle Polce and a Dylan Lewis triple gave USCB a six-point lead heading into halftime.
EWU quickly made it a one-point game as the half started, but Tasso Sfanos scored the next five points for USCB before Ralat connected on a fast-break three-pointer, and the Sand Sharks pushed the lead back to seven with just over 14 to play.
The Tigers made one more run, but Price and Ralat knocked down three-pointers and Norton scored 10 points during a 12-5 run that lasted 1:40, helping the Sand Sharks ease away.
After winning two exhibition games on the road, the Sand Shark women got a spark from the return of point guard Taniyah Bowman on Saturday, but they couldn’t close the gap on the Tigers down the stretch in a 63-56 defeat. Bowman put up 18 points, and Brielle Bartelt and Shaniya Rose added 10 each for the Sand Sharks.
USCB squares off with Savannah State in the River Rivalry game Tuesday at Enmarket Arena. Tipoff for the women’s game is set for 6 p.m. with the men’s game to follow.
