Flying Eagles Celebrate Sophomore Night as Nelson Joins 1,000-Point Club in Home Finale Loss

Game Recap: Men’s Basketball
2/27/2025 | Shaun Schetka

 
Cedar Bluff, VA- Playing their third game in as many days, the Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) Men’s Basketball team returned to the King Community Center on Wednesday night for their home finale against Cleveland CC. The Flying Eagles honored their five sophomores—Corean Nelson, Khalil Peoples, James Anthony Leath, Braydon Watson-Jones, and Dillon Sears—before ultimately falling 102-88 after a hard-fought battle.

Fueled by the energy of Sophomore Night, SWCC started strong, but fatigue set in during the second half, allowing Cleveland CC to pull away late.

Nelson Joins SWCC’s 1,000-Point Club

Sophomore standout Corean Nelson made history in the first half, surpassing 1,000 career points in an SWCC uniform. The Sumter, S.C., native finished with 23 points while also dishing out a season-high 11 assists, showcasing his development under first-year head coach JJ Thatcher.

Leath Stays Hot, Peoples Fills the Stat Sheet

James Anthony Leath continued his scoring surge, following up his career-high 32-point performance on Tuesday with a 20-point outing, including five three-pointers. Meanwhile, Khalil Peoples delivered yet another all-around effort, tallying 11 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a performance that reflected his do-it-all role for the Flying Eagles.

Freshman Adrian Mayes Shines

Though the night belonged to the sophomores, freshman Adrian Mayes stole the show. The Region 10 scoring leader poured in a game-high 26 points while adding seven rebounds, just below his season average of 9.9 boards per game. Mayes continues to be a dominant force, averaging 23.2 points per contest.

With the regular season in the books, the Flying Eagles now turn their attention to the Region 10 Playoffs. SWCC will hit the road for their first-round matchup on Monday, March 3.