Temple Terrace, FL - The Webber International Men's Basketball team opened the 2024-25 campaign at the Florida College Classic against the Trinity College Tigers Friday evening. The Warriors broke out in the first half, scoring 44 points enroute to a 82-69 victory. 

Jordan Golden scored the games first points, a jumper off an assist from Jerry Carraway Jr. Webber would go through a few misses before Ethan Taylor scored his first points as a Warrior, going 1-2 from the free throw line. Trinity grew a four-point lead at 9-5, before free throws from Orlando Thomas and another Golden jumper tied it at 9-9. The Tigers grew another lead, but the first buckets from Carraway Jr. and Jaylin Bain helped close the gap. After a make from Zachary O'Callaghan, the Warriors were down only three 18-15. A free throw from Trinity put Webber down by eight points 23-15, but a jumper from Carraway Jr. and three-pointers from Taylor and Khalyl Simmons tied the game at 23-23. Another three from Simmons, on Carraway Jr.'s fourth assist, gave Webber its first lead of the game. O'Callaghan and Golden went 3-4 from the line before another three from Carraway Jr. gave the Warriors a 32-25 lead. Thomas and Golden each sunk two more from the charity stripe, before another jumper from Golden made it 38-27. Brain, Thomas, and Carraway Jr. scored the final six points of the half as Webber took a 44-33 lead into the break. 

Thomas opened the second half scoring with a three-pointer. A free throw from the Tigers brought the game within six at 47-41, but Gabriel Sorensen would get in the scoring column with a three. Taylor sunk another two before Golden was sent to the line again, making both. Thomas and Bain scored the next seven points with two free throws from Thomas, and a two and three from Bain. Simmons and Bain made it a 15-point game making it a 64-49 game. Four straight baskets for the Tigers cut the Warriors' lead to five points, 64-59. Thomas and Taylor reextended the lead to 10 with Taylor's bucket coming off a steal by Sorensen. Back-To-Back buckets from Sorensen put Webber up by 12, 73-61. Taylor, Thomas, and Simmons all score one final three to make the score unreachable as the Warriors took down the Tigers 82-69. 

After the game, Head Coach Gabriel Rutledge was proud of how his team responded to an early deficit and how they continued to play together throughout the game.

 

"Tough gritty win for our guys. I was worried coming with so many new players we would be a little nervous but I was proud of how we battled the early adversity and locked back in after the court issues. We didn't shoot the ball great in the first half but our effort and energy on the defensive end allowed us to play fast in transition for easy buckets. Our focus at halftime was to create easier looks for each other and continue to shoot with confidence. Jerry did a tremendous job at keeping guys involved and playing under control. Both Orlando and Khalyl did a great job at taking and making great shots in the second half. While Gabriel did a great job at controlling the boards.Really proud of this group of guys. We will clean up some of the little mistakes and continue to build a strong program. Go Warriors!"

Thomas led the Warriors with 17 points, while having a near double-double with nine rebounds and one assist. Golden was the second leading scoring with 14 points and seven boards. Taylor, Simmons, and Bain all scored in double figures with 11, 11, and 10 respectively. Carraway Jr. was one post shy of a double-double, scoring nine points to go along with 10 assists. 

The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, October 26th when they take on the Milligan Buffaloes on day two of the Florida College Classic.