Dec. 1, 2007
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WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The outcome of the Winston-Salem State University men's basketball contest versus South Carolina State would need overtime to be decided at the Coliseum Annex in Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday evening, but the SCSU Bulldogs would pull out a 74-70 come-from-behind victory to drop WSSU to 1-5 on the season.
A first half in which Winston-Salem State shot an impressive 44.8% from the field (13 of 29 FG's) saw the Rams post their best first half shooting display since WSSU hit 11-of-21 field goals versus Lipscomb on November 10, 2007 in WSSU's first win of the season.
The solid WSSU shooting helped the Rams to a lead which grew to as many as nine points midway through the first half of play as they hit field goals on three straight possessions to jump ahead of the visiting Bulldogs.
The two teams combined for as many fouls as field goals as WSSU tallied 13 fouls and 13 field goals and SCSU recorded an equal number of fouls and field goals at 12 each. Neither team would capitalize from the free throw line in the half as WSSU and SCSU each shot under 54 percent from the charity stripe.
Despite the numerous fouls and the free throw shooting struggles, the Rams would benefit from four three-point field goals in the first half en route to taking a 38-32 lead at the halftime intermission.
Second half action would stay just as tight as the game's first 20 minutes as the South Carolina State came out of the locker room and quickly cut into the Rams' six-point cushion.
The Ram faithful would watch as a Jason Johnson lay-up with 7:33 left in the contest gave the Bulldogs the lead, their first lead since the opening basket of the contest.
Despite losing the lead the young Rams showed composure as they would use technically-sound defense and transition baskets to re-take the lead at 58-57 headed into the final media timeout of the game.
With the game clock winding down to less than one minute to play and with WSSU clutching to a 61-59 lead, the two teams would trade back-to-back turnovers as the 1,977 fans in attendance awaited the outcome.
A Chris Miller-Williams turn-around jump shot in the paint tied the game at 61-61 with 18 seconds remaining in the contest setting up a tense final possession for the host Rams.
WSSU's Brian Fisher's crafty behind-the-back crossover dribble set up the sophomore guards deep three point-field goal try as the Rams tried to earn a win in regulation. However Fisher's shot found the back iron and the two teams were headed to overtime tied at 61.
Overtime would be no different than regulation time as the two teams traded baskets and turnovers with neither team taking control of momentum. However it would be the Bulldogs who would break the pattern of poor free throw shooting, hitting four consecutive freebies to sneak out of Winston-Salem, NC with a 74-70 win.
Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Jason Flagler who recorded 16 points in the win. Pacing the Rams in loss was Jamal Durham with a game-high 19 points as he led three WSSU players in double figures.
The loss drops the Rams to 1-5 overall while South Carolina State improves to 2-5 overall with the win.
The win improves the Rams to 2-4 overall while South Carolina State falls to 1-6 overall with the loss.
Winston-Salem State returns to action on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 7:00 pm at the LJVM Coliseum as they play host to the Panthers of Georgia State University in a non-conference men's college basketball contest.
For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURAMS.com.
