NEWPORT NEWS - Despite trailing for a majority of the game, the No. 1 Apprentice School men's basketball team battled to claim a 94-89 win over Blue Lights in the New South Athletic Conference opener Saturday afternoon.

The Thoroughbreds withstood an early 8-0 push by the Builders, responding with an 8-0 run of their own to keep the game going back-and-forth early on. With the score in favor of the Builders at 24-18 midway through the first half, Blue Lights answered with a 19-4 run to take a 37-28 lead late in the period. BLC led the game at the half, 45-41, and held on to the advantage much of the second half.

Blue Lights led 72-66 at the midway point of the second half before the Builders rattled off seven straight points over a 1:53 span to retake the lead for the first time since halfway through the first period at 73-72. The game teetered back and forth before Apprentice reeled off a 7-0 spurt with 2:30 to play to take a 92-87 lead, a lead that would hold to give the Builders their first conference win of the season.

Donovan Means finished with 17 points and 16 rebounds on the day, 15 of those points coming in the second half. Five other Builders finished in double figures, including Adrion Wall (15), Kelby Saunders, Jr. and Karree Smith (12), Isaiah Jones (11) and Kurij Harrell (10). Sam Benton, Jr., led all scorers with 23 points, while Wol Yak had 21 for the Thoroughbreds.

It's a quick turnaround for the Builders as they welcome in Gallaudet tomorrow afternoon for a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.