BREVARD, N.C.—Mason Kemp led with a career high-tying 19 points and four rebounds while two other Stormy Petrels hit double figures for scoring, but it was not enough in a 93-72 road loss for the Oglethorpe men's basketball team Saturday at Brevard in the 2025-26 season opener.
Oglethorpe had an early lead until the Tornados spun a 14-0 run spanning four minutes of 6-for-9 shooting from the field and 2-for-4 shooting from three. While the Petrels put an end to the run, Brevard's hot shooting hardly slowed the rest of the way. Nine players from the Brevard squad, also competing in their season opener, connected on at least one 3-point attempt, and the team shot 48.5% (16-33) from the perimeter and 51.4% (36-7) from the field.
The Petrels managed to get the deficit back to single digits on a couple of occasions in the first half but could not get closer than 11 in the second half.
"That's not the way we wanted to start the season," said head coach Philip Ponder after the game. "Give Brevard credit. They executed their offense and shot the ball unbelievably. We didn't execute our offense the way we wanted to, but we still got to the free throw line plenty of times. You're not going to win games when you miss 23 free throws."
Kemp's 19 points matched his career high and came on 6-for-11 shooting. Malachi Dooley (14) and freshman Kam Stone (12) followed in double figures. Five other Petrels got in on the scoring action, including Carter Watkins and Jackson Kemp who scored nine and eight, respectively.
"We didn't play well today, but it's the first game of the season," Ponder added. "We will get better this week in practice and look to bounce back next weekend."
Game Notes
- M. Kemp added four rebounds and five steals, the latter marking a career high.
- Stone went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from three in his collegiate debut.
- J. Kemp and Watkins were Oglethorpe's top two leaders for rebounding with seven and six, respectively.
Up Next
Oglethorpe is on the road again next weekend for a pair of games Friday and Sunday at Johnson & Wales and Williams Peace. The first home game for the Stormy Petrels is set for Tuesday, Nov. 25, against Greensboro.
