BRADENTON, Fla. - New College of Florida Men's Basketball opened its fourth season Monday night, falling 82-65 to No. 24 Wayland Baptist University at Bradenton Christian School.
Cyncier Harrison led the Mighty Banyans with 17 points, while Ricardo Corvil recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dezmond McKinney added 10 points off the bench.
NCF trailed 40-22 at halftime before outscoring Wayland Baptist 43-42 in the second half. The Mighty Banyans cut a 20-point deficit to 10 with less than nine minutes remaining, but the Pioneers held on for the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harrison opened the scoring with a pair of free throws, giving NCF a 2-0 lead. Wayland Baptist answered with six straight points before Corvil scored the Mighty Banyans' first field goal on a layup.
Corvil added a fast-break jumper, and McKinney followed with a steal and dunk to bring NCF within 10-8. Jonathan Olodude later scored on a layup to make it 12-10.
Wayland Baptist pulled away during the remainder of the first half, shooting 53.1 percent from the field and taking a 40-22 lead into the break. Corvil led NCF with six points and seven rebounds in the opening half.
The Pioneers extended their lead to 20 early in the second half before the Mighty Banyans began to chip away. Will Murphree connected on a 3-pointer, and Zachary Chambers followed with a jumper.
Olodude scored inside before Giovanni Toscanini converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to 52-40 with 13:01 remaining. Ty Townsend later knocked down a 3-pointer, and Toscanini added a fast-break layup.
McKinney made two free throws with 8:41 to play, bringing NCF within 58-48. Wayland Baptist answered with the next six points and maintained its lead down the stretch.
Harrison scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half, while McKinney added eight after the break.
THE TURNING POINT
After NCF pulled within 10 on McKinney's free throws with under seven minutes left to play, Wayland Baptist responded with three consecutive baskets.
Julian Perez and Daryl Bod scored on layups before Freddie Cooper added another with 6:25 remaining, extending the Pioneers' lead to 64-48.
BY THE NUMBERS
17
Points scored by Harrison to lead the Mighty Banyans.
10
Points and rebounds for Corvil, who recorded a double-double.
43
Second-half points for NCF, which outscored Wayland Baptist by one after halftime.
10
Steals by the Mighty Banyans, led by three from Carson McCormick.
25
Points contributed by the NCF bench.
STAT LEADERS
Points: Cyncier Harrison - 17; Ricardo Corvil - 10; Dezmond McKinney - 10; Will Murphree - 9
Rebounds: Ricardo Corvil - 10; Giovanni Toscanini - 4; Jonathan Olodude - 4
Assists: Dezmond McKinney - 3; Carson McCormick - 2
Steals: Carson McCormick - 3; Jonathan Olodude - 2; Ty Townsend - 2
UP NEXT: NCF will return home to face Baptist University of Florida at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Bradenton Christian School.
