[FTCC photo by Brad Losh]
FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville Tech men’s basketball tallied its second win of the season Monday, topping visiting Central Carolina CC 83-80.
Sophomore JeKael Gay led all scorers with 26 points, including an 18-point first half that helped protect a narrow lead built in the early minutes of the game.
The Trojans (2-1), playing on their home court at Reid Ross Classical School, opened the game on an 8-0 run and hovered over the Cougars with a 46-41 halftime lead.
The Cougars (3-3) used a scoring drought by the Trojans early in the second half to erase the lead, building as much as a six-point lead, at 56-50 with just under 14:00 to play.
The Trojans kept the Cougars within range until freshman Adam Carey scored on a drive into the lane to put the FTCC ahead 66-65 with 7:00 left.
Neither team could pull away late, and a pair of free throws from CCCC’s Derek Gardner tied the game at 80-80 with 34 seconds remaining.
Gardner paced with Cougars with 19 points on the night.
A pair of free throws from sophomore Donte Johnson made the difference for the Trojans. Johnson was good on both chances at the line with 10.4 remaining to give the Trojans the lead for the final time at 82-80.
Johnson finished with 12 points.