Flyers Fall to No. 8 Northern Essex, 92–78

Sandhills Community College battled evenly through the first half but couldn't keep pace after the break, falling 92–78 to nationally ranked Northern Essex Community College in their home opener Saturday afternoon.

The matchup featured two top-10 NJCAA Division III programs — No. 6 Sandhills and No. 8 Northern Essex — and lived up to its billing early. The teams were knotted at 43–43 at halftime before the visiting Knights used a 49-point second half to pull away.

Sophomore Titus Cunningham led the Flyers with 17 points and nine rebounds, providing a spark off the bench while shooting 7-for-11 from the field. Isaiah Upchurch added 14 points and two assists, and Mylon Campbell chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Cristian Sias scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds, while Randy Dockery added seven points in a reserve role.

Sandhills shot 38.9% from the floor and 76% from the free-throw line, but Northern Essex's efficiency from deep (8-for-16, 50%) and dominance on the glass (44–36 rebounding edge) proved to be the difference. The Knights' Alejandro Delgado led all scorers with 22 points and 17 rebounds.

The Flyers (1–2) will look to bounce back at home Wednesday night at 6 p.m. when they host Catawba Valley Community College inside Heins Gymnasium.