Men's Basketball Rolls Past Gaston

Cape Fear Community College put together a strong offensive showing Friday afternoon, defeating Gaston College 87–78 on January 23 at the Schwartz Center.

The Sea Devils set the tone early, playing with pace and confidence on the offensive end. Cape Fear built a commanding first-half lead behind crisp ball movement and aggressive attacks to the basket, going into halftime up 46–31. The early cushion allowed the Sea Devils to dictate tempo and keep pressure on Gaston throughout the opening 20 minutes.

Gaston responded after the break, picking up its intensity and cutting into the deficit with a more physical second half. Cape Fear stayed composed, answering runs with timely baskets and defensive stops to maintain control. The Sea Devils matched Gaston's push in the second half and closed out the game with poise, securing the nine-point win.

Offensively, CFCC was balanced and efficient. Jadyn Cooper led the way with 19 points, attacking off the dribble and finishing through contact. MJ Rice provided a strong lift off the bench with 18 points, while JJ Moore filled the stat sheet with 13 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, guiding the offense and making key plays down the stretch. Malachi Simpson added 12 points, and Jacob Daniels knocked down four three-pointers on his way to 12 points, giving the Sea Devils a timely spark from deep.

Cape Fear's ability to get to the free-throw line proved critical, as the Sea Devils converted 26 free throws, allowing them to manage Gaston's second-half run and close the game effectively.

"I thought our first half really set the tone," Lane said. "We shared the ball, attacked the right matchups, and built a lead that gave us some breathing room. Gaston made a good run in the second half, but our guys stayed composed and did what we needed to do to finish it."

The win moves Cape Fear to second place in the Region 10 standings, improving the Sea Devils' record to 9–5 overall and 3–2 in conference play. CFCC will be back in action on Wednesday at Wake Tech in Raleigh. Game time is set for 6:00 pm.