VGCC Vanguards face busy schedule on the road

The Vance-Granville Community College Vanguards men’s basketball team started the year 2015 with a series of tough conference games on the road.

 

On Jan. 8, VGCC traveled to Kinston to take on the Lancers of Lenoir Community College. The Vanguards led 47-44 at the half, but the home team pulled away in the second half to secure a 94-83 victory. Starting forward Antonio Murphy of Fayetteville led VGCC in scoring, with 20 points, with Khadier Fulcher of Stem right behind him at 19 points. Fulcher was the Vanguards’ top rebounder (18). Murphy added 12 rebounds of his own. Tyrek Beverly of Oxford contributed 14 points.

 

The Vanguards made the relatively short trip to Louisburg College on Jan. 16 to take on the Hurricanes, who were then ranked number one in the nation for NJCAA Division II.  The result was a 93-59 victory for Louisburg. Fulcher was the statistical leader for his team this time, with 14 points and seven rebounds. Jarrett Ballard of Henderson contributed nine points and four assists off the bench.

 

VGCC faced another conference foe, Catawba Valley Community College, on Jan. 21. The teams were tied, 33 all, at halftime, but the CVCC Red Hawks were more dominant in the second half, gaining an 89-76 win. Beverly had a team-high 20 points. Jordan Bunting of Macon was the top rebounder, with 14, and also contributed 11 points. Fulcher put up 15 points and nine rebounds.

 

VGCC’s season record now stands at 2-12. The home game versus Patrick Henry Community College that was to have been played Jan. 14 has been rescheduled for Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. in Martinsville, Va. A rematch with Lenoir Community College that was originally set for Jan. 20 has been rescheduled for Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson.

 

The next two home games will see the Vanguards host Guilford Technical Community College on Jan. 24 at 3 p.m., and Pitt Community College on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.