Feb. 25, 2008
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WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The Winston-Salem State University men's basketball team downed one of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's best teams on Monday evening at the Joel Coliseum Annex as second-ranked Norfolk State University could not withstand a late WSSU rally as the Rams earned a 68-65 victory on a night when three WSSU seniors played in the final home game of their careers.
The two teams played dead-even basketball during the first 20 minutes of play as the lead changed hands and was deadlocked a total of 16 times (eight times each).
It would be only fitting that the halftime score found the two teams deadlocked at 23-23 headed into the locker room for intermission.
19 total first-half turnovers would eclipse the total of 18 made field goals, yet the two teams would respond with furious action in the second half as both WSSU and Norfolk State nearly doubled up their first half point totals in a contest that finished with 17 ties and 20 lead changes.
The Rams came out of the locker room hot and were the beneficiaries of excellent play from a pair of freshmen as Isiah Tucker scored all nine of his points in the second half and Paul Davis score 10 of his 14 total points in the game's final 20 minutes of play.
Coupled with the consistent play from Jamal Durham who tallied a team-high 17 points and the unusual scoring output from senior Roy Peake who scored 12 points in the win, the Rams were able to avenge their early-season loss to the Spartans.
Jamal Durham led the Rams with 17 points in the win as he paced three WSSU players in doubles figures. Paul Davis and Roy Peake joined Durham in double figures with 14 points and 12 points, respectively, in the win.
Leading the way for the Spartans was Tony Murphy who tallied 15 points in the loss. Joining Murphy in double-figures was Michael Deloach who recorded 14 points in a losing effort.
The win improves the Rams to 11-15 overall while the Spartans fall to 14-12 on the season with the loss. WSSU head coach Bobby Collins improves his all-time head coaching mark versus the Spartans to 7-6 overall with the victory.
Winston-Salem State University will return to action on Saturday, March 1 at 4:00 p.m. as they travel to Tallahassee, Florida to face the Rattlers of Florida A&M University.
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.
