Vicky Smith
Copy Editor
@pinkwritinglady
The Cameron men’s basketball team started the season with a victory, defeating Saint Gregory’s University 93-73 on Nov. 14 at the Aggie Gym.
The Aggies welcomed 11 new players to the court this season. Senior Desmond Henry said he’s excited for the year ahead with his new teammates.
“Even though we’ve had a lot of talent in past years as well,” Henry said, “I feel like this group of guys is something special.”
At the start of the game, the Cavaliers broke out on a 4-0 run to the Aggies. The teams traded points until CU fired up the board to pull ahead 23-9.
Cameron advanced to 29 points after Henry scored two points, junior D.J. Jackson scored three and senior Tank Mayberry made a free throw.
A combined 21 points from junior Deondre Ray and Henry boosted up the Black and Gold score. By halftime, the Aggies stood at 55 with Saint Gregory at 29.
In the second frame, CU came out with the momentum from the first. Juniors Cameron Lee and Zac Tabor’s combined 15 points in the half secured Cameron’s win.
A Jackson three-pointer put the Aggies ahead 60-32 with less than 10:00 on the clock.
At 3:40, CU showcased its ability to share the ball before Lee hit a three-pointer, putting the Black and Gold up 91-64.
The Cavaliers scored 44 points in the half to the Aggie’s 38, but CU maintained their steady lead.
The final minute featured more Aggie passing ability, leading up to frosh James Cross’s lane shot, which seal the final score – Aggies 93, Cavaliers 73.
Although the Black and Gold only made two of their six attempted free throws in the second frame, the Aggies shot a percentage of 44, shooting 40 percent from three-pointers.
Overall, Cameron shot 54.5 percent from the field, 49 from behind the arc and 62.5 from the free throw line. CU had 46 rebounds, 21 assists, 12 turnovers, five blocked shots and five steals.
Nine Aggies scored five or more points, and three juniors, Ray, Lee and Matthew Don, scored in the double-digits. Henry led the team with 16 points.
Henry was glad they won so they could set themselves up to go on a roll. Overall, he said he’s just happy for his teammates, staff and supporters.
“Through ups and downs and people not here anymore,” Henry said, “it shows that people wanna stick around and fight it out and to do well as a team and as a unit tonight. So I can’t thank my teammates enough, and I appreciate the coaches and staff as well. They set us up to prepare us for a good year.”
As a senior playing his last first game, Henry said he had some jitters.
“I’ll miss it,” Henry said. “I thank all the Cameron Aggie fans and students and teachers and everybody that’s helped me get to this point. It’s blessed me.”
Mayberry, who is also a senior, said the game was bittersweet for him as well.
“I was happy,” Mayberry said, “I was excited to play my first game of the season, but at the same time, it was sad because this is my last home first.”
Mayberry said it’s always good to get a first win, especially at home, and he is optimistic about the games ahead.
“I feel like we’re gonna be real good,” Mayberry said, “like we got a real young team – a whole bunch of new guys. So we’re still trying to put things together. I feel we got a real good chance to do something special this year.”