Caitlin Dorsch ~ Copy Desk Chief
On Sunday, November 25, the University of Lynchburg’s Men’s Basketball team overwhelmed Eastern Mennonite University by a score of 87 to 72. This is the team’s fifth straight win of the season. Their win streak began in their home opener on Thursday, November 8, against Ferrum College by a score of 75 to 57. Next, the team defeated St. Mary’s College (Md.) in a nail-biter by a score of 83 to 80 on Sunday, November 11. Then, at the start of our Thanksgiving Break, the team defeated Randolph College by a score of 60 to 48 on Saturday, November 17. That particular win was huge as it marked the beginning of the 2018 Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season.
This season, the Hornets have a good mix of returners and freshmen. The Hornets have five seniors (Guard Devante’ Young, Guard Jesse Case, Guard Deitrich Brown, Guard/Forward Austin Wrighten, and Forward Connor Schroeder) and have added four freshmen (Guard Daijordan Brown, Guard/Forward Cole Meadows, Forward Dow Dunton, and Guard C. J. Rosser) into the family.
Young believes that this team’s close-knit culture and family-like attitude is one of the major reasons why it has been so successful in the beginning of the season. The chemistry found in the strong culture of the men’s basketball team comes from the pain, hard work, and sweat the team has endured together during the off-season, including bootcamps and lifts. He explained, “There is a different level of focus in practice and everyone is tuned-in to what we have to do as a team. We have a different mindset as team this year. We try hang our hats more on the defensive end, and the coaching staff have been preparing us physically and mentally for every opponent we faced so far.”
This new-found focus on defense was also mentioned by Junior Guard Chance Greene. Greene insisted, “This year’s team is very close both on and off the court. We have gotten to learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and that has led to our success on the court. We have been sitting down and guarding through our first few games this year and that has been a major piece in our start to this season.”
Lynchburg Men’s Basketball continues their quest today, Wednesday, November 28, on Wayne Proffitt Court in the Turner Gymnasium at 7:00 p.m. This coming weekend, Saturday, December 1, through Sunday, December 2, the team will also be hosting the Wayne Proffitt Classic. On Saturday, December 1, the team will be playing against Mary Washington University at 6:00 p.m., and, on Sunday, December 2, it will be playing against Christopher Newport University at 3:00 p.m.