Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 14, 2009 10:44:51 GMT -5
THREES LEAD TO NWU WIN OVER A&T
EVANSTON, Ill., December 13, 2009 – Perhaps the arena and the outcome were not to Thomas Coleman’s liking, but the record book will not mention either. Maybe that’s why Coleman cracked a huge smile when finding out he had become the Aggies all-time leader in blocked shots Sunday night at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Coleman’s team lost the game to the Wildcats, 90-65. It was the Aggies first game against a Big 10 team since losing to Michigan 71-55 in 1983.
“Hats off to Thomas Coleman,’’ said North Carolina A&T men’s basketball coach Jerry Eaves. “He’s done a tremendous job of defending the basket since he walked through our door. I’m just looking forward to him breaking the conference shot block record. I keep telling Thomas the sky’s the limit in terms of what he can accomplish at North Carolina A&T.”
Coleman came into the game needing just two blocks to pass Humphries’ mark of 165 blocks. After going without a block in the first half, Coleman swatted back-to-back layups by John Shurna two minutes into the second half to make N.C. A&T history. Coleman would later block a shot by Ivan Peljusic to record his 167th career blocked shot. Coleman now owns the single-game, single-season and career blocked shots records at N.C. A&T.
Unfortunately for Coleman and the Aggies, the Wildcats had already started to pull away by the time he captured the record thanks to red hot shooting from 3-point range. Led by Drew Crawford’s six first-half 3-pointers, the Wildcats raced out to a 50-37 halftime lead. By the time the game ended, the Wildcats had hit a school-record 20 3-pointers with Crawford finishing with 35 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the arc.
Michael Thompson had 19 points and five threes. The Wildcats’ 20 threes are the most ever hit against an Aggies team. The Aggies were led by Coleman’s 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“That was one of the best shooting expeditions I’ve seen from a college team in a long time,’’ said Eaves. “The only negative thing I have to say about my team is that we knew we didn’t want them to run that Princeton offense through their center (Luka Mirkovic). He is a great passer. But they were still able to do that. Once they get the ball on those elbows, it opens both sides of the floor for perimeter shooting.”
Crawford gained his shooting touch 6 ½ minutes into the game. Thompson got things started by hitting a three from the corner to give the Wildcats a 14-11 lead. After Tavarus Alston drove the lane and dished to James Porter for an easy layup, the Aggies trailed 14-13. Crawford answered by hitting three straight 3-pointers.
After Nic Simpson ended the run with a three of his own, Crawford took a break from taking 20-footers and scored on a reverse layup before. But on the Wildcats’ next possession, Crawford stepped out and connected on another three to give the Wildcats a 28-16 lead. Two Alex Marcotullio free throws and a three by Jeremy Nash ended the Wildcats’ 22-5. Crawford came into the game with just six 3-pointers made.
“I saw that he had shot 10 3-pointers in a game earlier this year,’’ said Eaves about Crawford. “I told my team any time someone takes 10 3-pointers in a game they are interested in scoring. When he hit his first three over in front of our bench, I turned to my coach and said ‘I hope this is not one of those nights where his interest in scoring big hurts us.’”
“Of course, it did,” said Eaves.
EVANSTON, Ill., December 13, 2009 – Perhaps the arena and the outcome were not to Thomas Coleman’s liking, but the record book will not mention either. Maybe that’s why Coleman cracked a huge smile when finding out he had become the Aggies all-time leader in blocked shots Sunday night at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena.
Coleman’s team lost the game to the Wildcats, 90-65. It was the Aggies first game against a Big 10 team since losing to Michigan 71-55 in 1983.
“Hats off to Thomas Coleman,’’ said North Carolina A&T men’s basketball coach Jerry Eaves. “He’s done a tremendous job of defending the basket since he walked through our door. I’m just looking forward to him breaking the conference shot block record. I keep telling Thomas the sky’s the limit in terms of what he can accomplish at North Carolina A&T.”
Coleman came into the game needing just two blocks to pass Humphries’ mark of 165 blocks. After going without a block in the first half, Coleman swatted back-to-back layups by John Shurna two minutes into the second half to make N.C. A&T history. Coleman would later block a shot by Ivan Peljusic to record his 167th career blocked shot. Coleman now owns the single-game, single-season and career blocked shots records at N.C. A&T.
Unfortunately for Coleman and the Aggies, the Wildcats had already started to pull away by the time he captured the record thanks to red hot shooting from 3-point range. Led by Drew Crawford’s six first-half 3-pointers, the Wildcats raced out to a 50-37 halftime lead. By the time the game ended, the Wildcats had hit a school-record 20 3-pointers with Crawford finishing with 35 points on 8-for-13 shooting from the arc.
Michael Thompson had 19 points and five threes. The Wildcats’ 20 threes are the most ever hit against an Aggies team. The Aggies were led by Coleman’s 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“That was one of the best shooting expeditions I’ve seen from a college team in a long time,’’ said Eaves. “The only negative thing I have to say about my team is that we knew we didn’t want them to run that Princeton offense through their center (Luka Mirkovic). He is a great passer. But they were still able to do that. Once they get the ball on those elbows, it opens both sides of the floor for perimeter shooting.”
Crawford gained his shooting touch 6 ½ minutes into the game. Thompson got things started by hitting a three from the corner to give the Wildcats a 14-11 lead. After Tavarus Alston drove the lane and dished to James Porter for an easy layup, the Aggies trailed 14-13. Crawford answered by hitting three straight 3-pointers.
After Nic Simpson ended the run with a three of his own, Crawford took a break from taking 20-footers and scored on a reverse layup before. But on the Wildcats’ next possession, Crawford stepped out and connected on another three to give the Wildcats a 28-16 lead. Two Alex Marcotullio free throws and a three by Jeremy Nash ended the Wildcats’ 22-5. Crawford came into the game with just six 3-pointers made.
“I saw that he had shot 10 3-pointers in a game earlier this year,’’ said Eaves about Crawford. “I told my team any time someone takes 10 3-pointers in a game they are interested in scoring. When he hit his first three over in front of our bench, I turned to my coach and said ‘I hope this is not one of those nights where his interest in scoring big hurts us.’”
“Of course, it did,” said Eaves.