Gaston College loses to Montgomery College in Sunday's final day of Davidson-Davie Thanksgiving Classic

After overcoming a slow start, Gaston College took a brief lead on Sunday but couldn't get enough stops down the stretch as Montgomery College rallied past the Rhinos for a 74-69 victory in the second day of the Davidson-Davie Community College Thanksgiving Classic.

The loss drops Gaston College to 3-4 entering another tournament coming up next weekend at East Georgia College.

"We will work to get better," said Rhinos interim head coach Jermaine Williams, who had lost on Saturday to No. 6-ranked Henry Ford College, Mich., 88-73 in their first game of the tournament. "We were better than yesterday but have ground to cover in order for us to get where we want to be as a 'Team.'"

The Raptors, who had 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-8 starters on their front line, built as much as a 13-point lead in the first half before Asil Hoyle sparked a 21-13 surge for the final 7 1/2 minutes of the half to go into the break trailing 43-38.

Hoyle was fouled on a converted 3-pointer and made all three free throws after a technical foul was called on the Montgomery College bench to complete a 6-point play that cut a 42-32 lead to 42-38 with 49.1 seconds left in the first half.

In the second half, the teams were never separated less than nine points with Gaston College taking its first lead at 59-58 with 9:22 left in the game. The Rhinos eventually led by as many as four points at 64-60 before the Raptors closed the game on a 14-5 surge.

"We made the run and took the lead by doing the necessary things and making winning plays," Williams said. "Once we didn't capitalize on rebounds or get more stops, the momentum we gained was lost and we ultimately lost."

Hoyle (14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Jamal Ukaegbu (12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists), Judah Ravenell (12 points, 3 rebounds), Tyheim Love (10 points), Kush Carter (9 points), Jalante Edwards (6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Michael Smith (4 points, 4 rebounds) led a balanced Gaston College attack.

Montgomery got 23 points from 6-9 sophomore Will Tchatchoua and 20 from 6-10 freshman Sebastian Dokum.

"We were late on defensive help side," Williams said. "We wanted to double the block and we didn't get that right until late in the game."

The Raptors outrebounded Gaston College 45 to 31 and got 12 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second-chance points.

"The paint war really cost us," Williams said. "The rebound difference was massive. We are small but need more of a gang effort from the guards coming in to clean up on the glass as well."

The Rhinos play at host East Georgia State in that school's tournament at 7 p.m. on Friday then plays South Georgia State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.