The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

When Nathan Bain’s shot gave his Stephen F Austin Lumberjacks the biggest college basketball upset of the decade, it also brought awareness to Lumberjacks’ own Hurricane Dorian Relief effort and ignited a groundswell of support of the last 24 hours.

In September, the Lumberjacks established crowdsourced fundraising through a GoFundMe account to assist the Grand Bahama native’s family in the fallout from Dorian.

Over the course of approximately two months, the page raised just over $2000 put since Bain’s game winning layup the no.1 Duke Blue Devils, it has become the most popular page on the GoFundMe platform.

Up to press time Wednesday night, the page has received over $82,000 from over 2200 donations.

Following the game, Bain discussed the impact the offseason has had on his perspective and production on the year.

“I’m trying not to get emotional,” Bain said in an interview with ESPN following the historic shot, “My family lost a whole lot this year and I’m just playing this game for them. To my SFA family, my family back home in The Bahamas, I just want to make my country proud. When everything happened earlier in the year, they had my back, I just wanted to return the favour.”

The initial fundraising goal was set at $25,000 but after the uptick in donations, it increased to $50,000. That number was easily surpassed by Wednesday afternoon.

“I was just in disbelief at what basketball had done for my family,” Bain told the AP “It was truly a blessing.”

Bain is the eldest son of minister, school administrator, iconic high basketball coach and most recently, senior men’s national team interim head coach Norris Bain.

Several news outlets in the East Texas area have carried Bain’s story to bring awareness to the recovery effort.

“Category five hurricane, you know, destroys your entire house. It’s like what was the reason behind this,” said Bain. “You know, it’s kind of hard to find reasons behind it. But you cannot question, and especially me having my faith, and my family being a very, not religious family, but we have our faith in God. And we believe in him. And we believe in his almighty power. You know, you cannot question when things happen. You just gotta pray, and live if you still alive. You know, because there are people back home who lost their entire families, entire generations of families, just wiped out.”

Bain and Lumberjacks head coach Kyle Keller discussed the developments with KTRE-9 an ABC affiliate in East Texas.

“There is not much you can do but hope and pray and try to get to the safest place possible. No one was prepared for the hurricane sitting on the island for so long. with hurricane-force winds so strong just sitting in one spot,” he said, “The church got hit really hard, My house got hit really hard. We lost just about everything. We are still trying to stay positive because more important then the material things, everyone in our circle and immediate family and church family is safe.

He said his spirits have been lifted by the support of the Lumberjack community.

“It’s not just, ‘Ah dang. I am sorry that happened.’ They want to be active. They want to help. It shows they genuinely care. They want to get active and take initiative,” Bain said.

Keller said that the programme is as committed to Bain and the recovery process as the senior forward has been to the Lumberjacks.

“You have to put your arms around him and love on him as much as you can. Three years ago, Nate had the chance to leave but he stayed. I told Nate ‘there is a reason why you are still here. You are still with us today to help you get through what you are going through.’”

Keller said: “That is what is great about East Texas. The people help. We went down and helped with Harvey and last year our athletes helped with clean up in Alto with the tornadoes. Those people down in The Bahamas are devastated. The Bain’s and others need your help. We need people to show support because they are no more.”