Sea Devil Men's Basketball Begins Brunswick CC Christmas Classic This Weekend

WILMINGTON, NC--- The Sea Devil Men's Basketball program will hit the hardwood this weekend for a three day tournament hosted by Brunswick Community College. The "2016 Brunswick CC Christmas Classic" will run from December 15-December 17, with Cape Fear Community College playing in three games in the tournament from Thursday to Saturday. 

Cape Fear is coming off two road wins in the Baltimore City Classic last weekend, where they defeated tournament host Baltimore City CC (92-88) on Saturday afternoon led by Jacque Brown, Trae Bryant, Alonzo Tyson, and Jerick Haynes. Brown finished as the leading scorer with 19 points, Bryant finished with 17 points, Tyson with 13 points off the bench, and Haynes with 11 points as well. 

On Sunday, the Sea Devils would take on Harcum College on the final day of the Baltimore City Classic, and they would come out with the (96-88) victory over the Bears. Jacque Brown once again led the Sea Devils in scoring with 28 points, while Trae Bryant and Alston Davis each recorded 26 points.

"This was a great weekend for us, we are beginning to understand one another and play for one another. Still tons of room for growth but very proud of the guys," said Head Coach Ryan Mantlo following the tournament's results. 

Cape Fear will enter this week's tournament with a (9-2) overall record, getting to that mark as the winners of their last five games played, outscoring their opponents (546-420) in those five games. The Sea Devils are currently (5-1) on the year in road or neutral court basketball games, while are (4-1) inside the Schwartz Center. The Sea Devils are averaging 107.5 points per game through their first 11 games played this season while holding opponents to 78.5ppg on the defensive end.

Headed into the tournament, sophomore guard Trae Bryant leads the team in scoring at 18.0ppg, sophomore forward Alonzo Tyson leads the team in rebounding at 8.1/game, while freshman guard Jerick Haynes leads the squad in 3-Pointer% at 50.0%, and sophomore forward DeVarte Watson leads the team with 2.0 blocks per game. 

The Sea Devils have a handful of role players to watch in the tournament as well; redshirt freshman center Parrish Tinsley (6-9 260) is averaging 6.8ppg and 5.4rpg in 7.8 minutes/game, sophomore guard Tai-He Jeter (6-2 185) is averaging 9.2ppg on 40.4 3PT% in 11.2 minutes/game, freshman guard Trevor Willis (6-3 185) is averaging 9.4ppg on 39.7FG% in 14.9 minutes/game, and freshman guard Shaft Parker (6-2 195) is averaging 3.4ppg in 8.3 minutes/game. 

"This is a huge tournament to try and head into break with great momentum. We played very well last weekend and need to continue that through this weekend, we must learn how to play consistently for three straight days," said Sea Devil Men's Basketball head coach Ryan Mantlo in his pre-tournament presser leading up to tomorrow's game versus Wallace State. 

Cape Fear will begin the tournament on Thursday evening in a match-up versus (7-6) overall Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, a Division I/Region 22 Conference opponent led by sixth year head coach John Meeks, who has led the Lions to a (129-79) record with Meeks at the helm. Players to watch on the Lions are: (5-11) Guard Jaylen McCoy- 13.2ppg, (6-1 150) Guard Rhysante Ellis-9.2ppg, and (6-5 245) Forward Josh Hill- 8.5ppg.

The Lions enter the tournament with a six-game winning streak prior to their match-up versus the Sea Devils on Thursday. 

Cape Fear will then match-up versus (8-6) Delaware Tech CC on Friday evening, a Division II/Region 19 Conference opponent led by head coach Larry Banks. Players to watch for the Bears are: (6-5) Forward Jahsun Greer- 21.5ppg, (6-5) Forward Alex Melikhov- 15.9ppg, and () Guard SeiQuann Kearney- 10.5ppg. 

The Sea Devils will close out the tournament on Saturday evening vs Bryant & Stratton College (VA), a Division II/Region 10 Conference opponent led by head coach Cliff Coleman. Coleman has led the Bobcats to a (8-4) overall and (5-2) in Region 10 Conference mark leading up to the tournament. Players to watch on the Bobcats are: (6-5) Wing Jordan Forbes- 19.1ppg, (6-4) Guard Gerrard Simpkins- 13.3ppg, and (5-10) Guard Alondo Jackson-10.8ppg. 

Projected Sea Devil Starters in Brunswick CC Christmas Classic

Pos   No      Name             Ht/Wt     Hometown (Last School)

PG-   10   Jacque Brown      5-8  170     Beaufort, N.C.  (University of Mount Olive)

SG-    3    Trae Bryant         6-1  180     Wilmington, N.C.  (UNC-Asheville)

G-     32   Jerick Haynes      6-1  170     Shelby, N.C.      (Shelby High School)

F-      4    Alston Davis         6-6   215    Charlotte, N.C.  (Arlington Country Day)

F-      5    DeVarte Watson   6-8   210    Greenville, S.C.  (Oakbrook Prep)

Sea Devil Men's Basketball Tournament Game Schedule

Thursday--- vs Wallace State CC-Hanceville--- 8pm*

Friday--- vs Delaware Tech CC--- 8pm* 

Saturday--- vs Bryant & Stratton College (VA)--- 8pm*

*- LIVE STATS Gametracker will be avaliable for fans who are unable to make it out to any of the three games the Sea Devils will play in the 2016 Brunswick CC Christmas Classic from Dec. 15-17

Follow Sea Devil Athletics on our Official Social Media Accounts

Be sure to follow Sea Devil Athletics on our official social media accounts- Twitter (@GoSeaDevils), Instagram- @SeaDevilAthletics, and Snapchat- @GoSeaDevils, for exclusive game coverage, highlights, behind the scenes, player and coach interviews, and fun facts about Sea Devil Athletics and coaching staffs here at Cape Fear Community College. 

Next Home Game(s) for Sea Devil Men's Basketball

Sat. Jan 7, 2017--- Isaiah Christopher Academy--- 3pm, LIVE STATS Gametracker will be avaliable

Tues. Jan 10, 2017--- Mount Zion Christian Academy--- 6pm, LIVE STATS Gametracker will be avaliable

Wed. Jan 11, 2017--- Port City Prep--- 6pm, LIVE STATS Gametracker will be avaliable

Mon. Jan 16, 2017--- Johnston CC--- 2pm, LIVE STATS Gametracker & LIVE VIDEO will be avaliable--- "MLK Celebration"

Fri. Jan 20, 2017--- Brunswick CC--- 6pm, LIVE STATS Gametracker & LIVE VIDEO will be avaliable--- "CFCC Corporate Night"

Courtesy of Trent Brinkley