Mingoes flying high as only 4-0 team in NPBA

Mingoes flying high as only 4-0 team in NPBA
UB Mingoes forward Kemsy Sylvestre goes up for the easy two in the game against The JD’s Seafood Shockers in New Providence Basketball association action Wednesday Nov. 28, 2018 at the A.F. Adderley gym. Sylvestre had 25 points and 13 rebounds in the 87-84 win. (UB ATHLETICS)

NASSAU, BAHAMAS –  Four UB basketball players hit double figures as The Mingoes came back hard in the second half to defeat the JD’s Seafood Shockers 87-84 Wednesday night at The A.F. Adderley gym and now lead division one in The New Providence Basketball Association.

Kemsy Sylvestre led the Mingoes with 25 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks on the night for the Mingoes squad that now move to 4-0 in division one of the league.  The Shockers fall to 1-3.

Ramon Dames scored 13, Justin Smith 12 and Christoff McKenzie 11 for The Mingoes in the win. Adam Johnson led the Shockers with 16 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.  Also for the Shockers, William Rigby scored 14 to go along with 11 rebounds, Lenny Oscar dumped 13 points and both Shakwon Lewis and Jefferson Oliver each had 12 points.

The Shockers held their largest lead of the game with a jumper from Oliver with about 32 seconds to go in the first (18-11).  The Shockers would take that lead into the second quarter. The Mingoes would go on a 12-4 run to take the lead 23-22 off deep jumper from Dames with 7:19 on the clock. The Shockers would take the lead back to end the half 39-35.

With about 3:00 to go in the 4th quarter and the matchup tied at 76, UB would go on a 9-2 run capped by a clutch 3-pointer from Justin Smith, with the assist from Dames, to go up 84-78 (1:01). This 6-point lead was the largest of the game for UB.  The Shockers had a few looks to get back in the game but could not convert as the Mingoes go on to win 87-84.

“We started off a bit slow but we stuck to the game plan and that’s what paid off here for us tonight,” head coach Bacchus Rolle said. “We are beginning to trust the game plan and it’s paying off with us now at 4-0 so far in the season.”

Nichols, who again came off the bench for the third straight game, said he had a personal goal for the night and it showed in his numbers.

“We are just staying positive and staying disciplined and staying together and going hard to get these wins,” he said. “We know we could play way better than we did tonight so we know what we are capable of on the court.”

The Mingoes next play in the league 9:00 p.m. Monday, December 17, 2018 at The A.F. Adderley gym against the Caro Construction Pirates. UB also head to south Florida for a three-game tour December 12, 2018 against St. Thomas University, Florida Memorial University, and Broward College.