BLUFFTON -- History was made on a memorable on a Wednesday night in March as USCB captured its first-ever Peach Belt Conference Tournament victory, outlasting Lander 62-57 in front of a sold-out, electrified crowd at "The Cove." The atmosphere was electric, and the moment marked a defining milestone for Sand Shark basketball.
Led by the all-around brilliance of Kenney Gaines—who tallied 13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals—USCB built an early lead and never trailed in the second half. Freshman standout Dominic Eason added 11 points and 5 boards, including a momentum-shifting stretch that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
The highlight of the night came when Gaines soared for a thunderous fast-break dunk off a steal from Alejandro Ralat, sending the Sand Shark Frenzy into chaos and giving USCB a much-needed boost heading into halftime with a seven-point lead.
Eason's back-to-back threes midway through the second half extended the lead to 17—USCB's largest of the game—and seemed to seal the deal. But Lander wouldn't go quietly, storming back with a furious 15-1 run to cut the lead to just three in the final minute.
With the game on the line, Gaines calmly sank two clutch free throws to put the game out of reach, and the celebration was on. It wasn't just a win—it was a statement. A turning point. A new chapter.
