Seniors Josh Perkins (NCCU commit), and JP Moorman (Temple commit), anchored the Bengals in the win which was the first “W” an NC school has picked up in the tournament. 

Greensboro day (34-3) came in as the seventh seed but this team is experienced after competing in the tournament last year and very talented. Coach Freddy Johnson’s squad had a tough national schedule that prepared them for this moment. The Bengals swarmed IMG (26-2), early in the game and never really allowed the Ascenders offense to establish a rhythm.

Moorman got hot early and established himself well on the court attacking the rim, he scored 11 of a game-high 15 in the first half. His side led IMG 33-18 at the half, for Coach Walden’s side Mcdonald's All American Trevon Duval (2017 Uncommitted),  dropped 14 in two quarters but he didn’t get much production from anyone else. Duvall played tough he was the only Ascender with more than three points at the halfway point. The electrifying guard did all he could but the defense really keyed in on him and forced him into foul trouble.

The defensive effort put on by Greensboro day was spectacular they were able to hold the seventh-best player in the country scoreless for an entire half. 

Perkins really strapped up he sacrificed some of his own offense early for the better of the team but he never let up on D. He hounded Duval and made him work extremely hard in the second the NC guard got hot from deep. After suffering through a blitzkrieg from IMG in the third he buried three deep balls to keep the Bengals ahead and comfortable in the fourth.   

Although Greensboro day came in as an underdog they were the more experienced team returning to the tournament in consecutive years and it showed. The top team in our Hoop State looked poised and in command, even when they found themselves on the wrong end of a big run the Bengals continued to make plays.

Their performance isn’t anything new if you’ve been blessed enough to see this group in action. Greensboro day is deep, they play hard, and make big shots during crunch time. Last year we saw the program make their debut in the Dicks Invitational and there was a sense the Bengals were just happy to be included.

In the second go around they’ve come to make some noise and so far we hear you! Taking down the newest juggernaut on the block will have that effect leading up to this one we heard a lot about the talented group assembled in Bradenton, Florida. IMG academy where athletes are bred got completely shell shocked from the tip.  

A win of this magnitude is a huge boost for NC hoops and serves as a testament to the level of basketball and talent currently in the Hoop State.

Greensboro Day is not a tourist anymore and if you didn’t know now you do, the Bengals are for real and it seems they’re just getting started.