Sea Devils Look for a Win Friday versus Virginia Preps

Game 5- Cape Fear Community College (3-1) vs Virginia Preps 
Game Date- Friday, November 18, 2016
Tip-Off Time-7:00pm (EST)
Location- Petersburg, Virginia  

WILMINGTON, NC--- The Sea Devil Men's Basketball program will look to carry momentum from Wednesday's (123-77) victory over Wake Tech Community College as they hit the hardwood for a Friday evening contest versus Virginia Preps from Petersburg, Virginia. 

"I thought we played hard. We started off a little slow, and a little hungover [after the Georgia Highlands loss], but the guys picked it up, and the guys really battled for about 35 minutes," said Sea Devil Men's Basketball head coach Ryan Mantlo as he addressed his opening post-game presser comments. 

At the 35 minute mark in the game, following a made free throw by Eagles' guard Camryn Fort, the Sea Devils had a (97-70) lead, and would outscore Wake Tech (26-7) in the game's final five minutes, sparked by a trio of made 3's by freshman guard Michael Taylor. 

"I thought we played well as a team, everybody was clicking, everybody was hitting shots, and everybody [played their role], and that all contributed to the win," said sophomore guard Trae Bryant in his post-game comments following his 17-point performance on four made 3's. 

Bryant, the Wilmington native out of Hoggard High School, has been one of the Sea Devils' main contributers through four games, as the team's third leading scorer just trailing second leading scorer Jerick Haynes (16.5ppg), and leading scorer Jacque Brown (16.8ppg). Bryant has scored in double-digits in each of the team's four games played this season, with his career high of 17 coming on Wednesday evening. 

The Sea Devils had nine players score in double-digit points in the victory over the Eagles, including all five starters; with role players of Michael Taylor getting 15, DeVarte Watson added 10, Trevor Willis contributing 12, and big man Parrish Tinsley dropped 10 in his 7 minutes played. 

"I think we just put our foot to the pedal. I don't think we let up in the last 10 minutes, [and] I loved seeing the bench and the way they were cheering for each other. If we can buy into each other, we have the pieces to be pretty darn good," added Mantlo in his post-game presser comments. 

Cape Fear was able to find success as well inside the paint outscoring Wake Tech (50-30) in points in the paint, while also outsocring Wake Tech's bench (49-14) in the win. 

With that win over Wake Tech Community College, the Sea Devils are now (13-2) all-time against the Eagles, and Ryan Mantlo picks up his 191st career win at Cape Fear Community College.

The Sea Devil Men's Basketball will hit the road for a two-game road trip this weekend, starting with a Friday's match-up versus Virginia Preps at 7pm (EST), followed by a Saturday match-up versus No.14 nationally ranked Richard Bland College at 2pm (EST).

This is the first match-up in school history between the Sea Devil Men's Basketball program and the Virginia Preps men's basketball program. 

"We are still searching for our true identity. We must get better defensively and on the glass but offensively we are special," said Sea Devil Men's Basketball head coach Ryan Mantlo in his pre-game presser prior to Friday's game versus Virginia Preps. 

"Friday is keeping the gas pedal down for 40 minutes," Mantlo added, when asked what the biggest key is to getting a victory over Virginia Preps. 

"Alston Davis, he is starting to fall into his rhythm and do great things. Expect him to continue to progress each week," Mantlo added when asked who is one specific player to watch in Friday's game following the team's week of practices and game action. 

Projected Sea Devil Starting Five vs Virginia Preps
PG: Jacque Brown
SG: Trae Bryant
G:  Jerick Haynes
F:  Alston Davis 
F:  Alonzo Tyson

About the 2016-2017 Sea Devil Men's Basketball Team
Mascot: Sea Devils 
Affiliation: Division I, Region 10 Conference
Season Record: (3-1) Overall, (1-0) on the Road, (2-1) at Home
Coaching Staff:

• Ryan Mantlo- (10th Season as Head Coach;'04 Liberty University; Career Record (191-98)

• Mark Lane- (6th Overall Season as Assistant Coach; '06 University of Windsor)

• Marcus Faison- (1st Season as Volunteer Assistant Coach; '13 Methodist University)

Players to Watch: (Player Stats as of November 17, 2016)

• Sophomore F Alonzo Tyson- 13.0ppg  10.0rpg  1.5apg  61.8 FG%  71.4 FT%

• Freshman G Jerick Haynes-  16.5ppg  4.0rpg   1.8apg  57.1 FG%  55.6 3PT%

• Sophomore PG Jacque Brown- 16.8ppg  3.5rpg  5.8apg  53.3 FG%  47.4 3PT% 90.9 FT%

• Sophomore G Trae Bryant- 13.5ppg  2.0rpg  4.0apg   47.1 FG%  46.2 3PT%

• Freshman G Alston Davis- 12.0ppg  7.3rpg  0.8apg  40.9 FG%  33.3 3PT%  55.6 FT%

Students, Come Join the Blue Crew Student Section at Each Home Game
Students, be sure to join the Blue Crew, the Sea Devil Athletics proud student section at every home basketball game. The Blue Crew is a fun, interactive, and connective group of student fans who like to cheer for our basketball programs at every home game.