Dec. 8, 2007

Final Stats

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Led by Michael Puckett's team-high 15 points, the Winston-Salem State University Rams downed the Panthers of Georgia State University by the score of 67-61 at the Joel Coliseum on Saturday evening in Winston-Salem, NC.

For the third consecutive contest, WSSU head coach Bobby Collins started the game with a trio of seniors and a pair of sophomores taking the court as Greg Lewis earned his third start of the young season. 

Lewis immediately made his presence felt as the 6'7", 255-pound forward converted an easy lay-up that gave the Rams a 4-1 advantage only 2:41 into the contest.

The two teams hit the first three shots of the game before going cold as neither team was able to take control with the Rams and Panthers being separated by no more than three points during the game's first 10 minutes of play. 

For the third time in 2007-08 the Rams headed to the locker room at halftime with a lead as WSSU held a five-point advantage at 33-28 after 20 minutes of play.  Jamal Durham led all WSSU first-half scorers with nine points and three rebounds as he helped WSSU to a lead at the contest's mid point.

Second half action saw the Rams, a team that had lost the only two other contest that they had led at halftime in 2007-08, attempt to hang on to a halftime lead for the first time this season.

As had been true to form through six games of the 2007-08 season, the Rams allowed an opponent back into the contest as Georgia State cut the WSSU lead to three points at 43-40 when Justin Billingslea converted a lay-up with 14:39 remaining in the contest.

WSSU answered with a run of their own as the Rams mounted a 10-2 run that was capped by a Michael Puckett three-point field goal with 11:53 to play in the game as WSSU opened up their largest lead of the season, an 11-point margin at 53-42 as the Rams held an advantage that they would never relinquish.

Leading the way for the Rams was Puckett's 15 points.  He was joined in double figures by Darius Floyd with 14 points and Jamal Durham who tallied 11 points in the win.

The Panthers were led by Rashad Chase who tallied a game-high 18 points in a losing effort.

With the win the Rams improve to 2-5 overall while the Panthers fall to 2-6 overall with the loss.

WSSU returns to action on Monday, December 17, 2007 at 7:00 pm when they play host to the Alabama A&M Bulldogs at the C.E. Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, NC 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 www.WSSURAMS.com.