The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LATHANIEL Bastian had an impressive debut in his transition to NCAA Division II basketball to highlight the weekend from Bahamians at the top tier of the sport.

In his first game in an Angelo State Rams uniform, Bastian finished with 13 points on 6-9 shooting from the field, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in the Rams’ 96-94 win over New Mexico Highlands.

He followed with 16 points and six rebounds in a 98-87 win over Fort Lewis as the Rams completed the Lone Star Conference/ Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Challenge 2-0.

The Rams were projected to finish seventh overall when the LSC announced the results of the Preseason Coaches’ Poll at its virtual media day.

Rams head coach Cinco Boone said Bastian is one of several new additions that has the programme excited about the season. He has early season averages of 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

“With our new additions they are some guys that we are excited about and we will recruit from all over, different levels of high school kids, JUCO players and four-year players,” he said. “Tanny Bastian was a player out of Trinity Valley that comes in with experience in the JuCo national tournament.”

Bastian spent the last two seasons with the Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals at the JuCo level. Last year he averaged 5.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

The Division I level was highlighted by a matchup of Bahamians on the court and on the sidelines.

Coach Yolette McPhee- McCuin continues to lead her Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme against Annya Moss and the Mississippi Valley State Devillettes.

The Rebels improved to 1-1 on the season after they defeated the Devillettes with a 94-44 win at the Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi.

“It was better to finish off on the win side of the win column, so I’m grateful for that. Today I really wanted to see our team be more disciplined and play our style of basketball,” said McPhee-McCuin.

“I felt like we had a lot of moments when we had those opportunities and I still think that there’s a lot more that we can improve upon, but it was good to see Angel score today. It was good to see a lot of people scoring.”

In last season’s matchup the Rebels defeated Mississippi Valley State 86-46.

Moss finished with nine points.

For the Ole Miss men, junior forward Sammy Hunter scored six points on 3-5 shooting from the field in 10 minutes in a 93-68 victory over Charleston Southern.

Garvin Clarke finished with three points, five rebounds and three assists in his Akron State Zips’ lopsided 102-49 win over Point Park Pioneers.