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Post by AggieGroove on Feb 21, 2009 18:00:09 GMT -5
A&T - 56
WSSU - 49
1:01 left
WSSU up by 5 at half...A&T strong run in the 2nd half
Had to go do "honey -dos" since just back from the 'boro...
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Post by AggieGroove on Feb 21, 2009 18:19:39 GMT -5
A&T - 68
WSSU - 61
final.....good win for the ladies and mens...let's keep the ball rolling...SCSU next...we owe them!
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Post by Bornthrilla on Feb 21, 2009 20:37:57 GMT -5
Late Run Sparks Aggies Past Rams; N.C A&T Downs Winston-Salem State 68-61
Close contest decided by 13-1 run late in the second half of play
Feb. 21, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The North Carolina A&T State University Aggies used a 13-1 run in the late-stages of the second half of play as they turned a one-point deficit into an 11-point advantage en route to completing the season sweep of the Winston-Salem State University Rams with a 68-61 victory on Saturday at the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C.
The first half of play started innocently enough as the Aggies and the Rams both found it difficult to put the ball in the basket as the two teams combined to miss 17 of their first 22 shots from the field.
The Rams would start three for their first 11 from the field, including an 0-3 shooting display from leading scorer Brian Fisher, during the game's first five minutes of play.
Not to be outdone, the Aggies would miss nine of their first 11 shots from the field headed into the first media timeout with 13:50 to play in the opening period.
Despite the shooting woes the Rams found a way, through aggressive defense and an offensive spark provided by junior guard Brian Fisher and freshman Jamarcus McClinton, to lead by five points at halftime 31-26.
The Rams, leading by five points, fell victim to a hostile environment of 5,700 fans, a standing-room-only crowd at the Corbett sports Center, that amplified every play on the court as key turnovers proved costly for WSSU as North Carolina A&T mounted their game-changing run.
Leading by two points, at 47-45, with 8:02 to play in the contest, the Aggies capitalized on a trio of WSSU turnovers and three misses from three-point range as N.C. A&T burst out for a 13-1 run over a span of three minutes that put the game out of reach.
A late WSSU rally cut the lead to only seven points, the game's final margin, but the damage was done as the Rams were handed their 18th loss of the season.
Leading the way for the Rams in the loss was Brian Fisher who tied a season-high with 25 points. Fisher was joined in double-figres by Jamarcus McClinton who tallied 14 points.
The loss drops the Rams to 7-18 on the season and pushes WSSU's losing streak to two games. The victory moves North Carolina A&T to 14-13 on the season (7-5 MEAC).
Winston-Salem State returns to action on Monday, Feb. 23 at 8:00 p.m. as they travel to Norfolk, Va. to face the Spartans of Norfolk State University in WSSU's final road game of the season.
For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations t (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSRams.com.
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Post by pj on Feb 22, 2009 15:52:38 GMT -5
I went to the game. It seemed that WSSU never had the fire-power to win this game. Even when they had the lead, they seemed like they did not belong. I also dawned on me that we are deep as a team. If our shots are falling, we can give anyone trouble.
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Post by pj on Feb 22, 2009 16:35:11 GMT -5
AggieGroove, I agree, the SCSU game is big, and we do Owe them. We are playing good ball...I love this little run.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Feb 22, 2009 18:04:21 GMT -5
AGGIES SWEEP RIVAL WSSU
Coleman ties the school’s single-season blocked shots record
GREENSBORO, February 21, 2009 – Perhaps Winston-Salem State guard Brian Fisher summed up Saturday evenings game between arch-rivals North Carolina A&T and WSSU.
“He is a good player,’’ said Fisher referring to Aggies point guard Tavarus Alston. “He picked up those two fouls early. When he got back into the game, we had not built up a big enough lead. He got his team back into it and they got a lot of easy transition baskets.”
Alston scored 15 points, dished out three assists and recorded three steals in just 20 minutes to lead the North Carolina A&T men’s basketball team to a 68-61 win in front of a sellout crowd at Corbett Sports Center.
Alston, who also had a fantastic game in the Aggies win over the Rams in Winston-Salem last month, left Saturday’s game at the 18:59 of the first half after picking up two offensive fouls.
“I wasn’t really worried,’’ said N.C. A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. “We’re a team. I have no idea who is going to be our leading scorer game in and game out. I don’t even think about it anymore. I knew in the second half he would have energy and his legs would be fresh.”
Alston’s backup Marc Hill played well in his place, turning the ball over just one time in 14 minutes. The Rams were not able to establish a lead until the final minute of the first half as they took a 31-26 lead into the locker room.
Alston returned for the start of the second half and according to Eaves he wasn’t going to sit much. “I didn’t care if he picked up his third foul in the first 30 seconds, he was going to play the last 20 minutes,’’ said Eaves.
Even with Alston on the floor the Aggies still trailed 47-45 on a Jemarcus McClinton layup with 8:02 remaining. Winston-Salem State head coach Bobby Collins felt comfortable with the Rams’ zone that served to slow down the Aggies running game. Then Aggies swingman Nick Wilson happened.
Wilson stepped a few feet back from the 3-point arc and knocked the shot down to give the Aggies a 48-47 lead with 7:35 remaining. N.C. A&T never relinquished the lead again.
"I thought it was a big shot,’’ said Collins about Wilson’s three. “It got them back into the flow. "It was a deep three and it was against our zone at a point when I thought our zone was bothering them a little bit. The difference was we got stops but then we didn't capitalize on the other end."
Alston took the Aggies to victory from there. After two Robert Johnson free throws, Alston got the Aggies out on the break after a Thomas Coleman block and found Ed Jones ahead of the Rams defense for an easy layup. That play was followed by Alston finding an open Kam Shepherd underneath the basket for a dunk.
Alston ended the Aggies 14-4 run with a no-look pass to Coleman for a dunk and a 62-51 Aggies lead with 2:35 to play.
“Not playing in the first half was a little frustrating,’’ said Alston. “But I left I had the advantage because I didn’t play. I was just waiting for the opportunity to get out on the break.”
The Aggies improved to 8-1 at home and are now 14-13 overall after winning their sixth straight game. For the first time in 12 years, the Aggies are above .500 in late February. Coleman had 12 points and two blocks as he tied the school record for blocks in a season with 70. Fisher led the Rams with 25 points.
The Aggies return to action Monday night at 8 against S.C. State. The Aggies trail the Bulldogs by a half game in the standings.
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